Why do my parents resist medication for bipolar disorder?

Question

It seems like whenever I feel empty inside, I need medication. I have told my parents that maybe I should try meds for my disorder but they just tell me that they don't trust pills like that. Why is this?

Answer 1

They may be afraid of some of the side-effects they've heard of, like increased suicide attempts, weight gain, etc. and don't want to put you at risk.

They may also be afraid that you'll decide your wellness depends on taking a pill and they may fear taking medication may set you up for a future drug problem (which bi-polar people are at risk for).

If you are currently seeing a therapist, then see if you can all sit down together with the therapist as a family to come up with a way to better manage your symptoms.

Since you cannot take meds, do know there are ways to alter your mood without drugs that work for a lot of people. Exercise is one of the best things you can do. Eating well can help as well. There are foods that help our moods - you can do a search on this via the internet. Also know that getting enough (but not too much) sleep is key for you as a bi-polar person. You might try charting your sleep and wake times and see if you find that your mood is better or worse based upon your sleep schedule.

I've parented two bi-polar children, and I know your life isn't easy. Best of luck.

Answer 2

If you don’t feel well you do not necessarily need medical treatment. Medical treatment is advised either in the case of genetic bipolar disorder or chronic depression (in which you really have no idea for what reason you are living and all the time you feel there is nothing to make you happy) but if you sometimes feel that you are not happy, try to find out the reason. I received medical treatment for severe depression 3 years ago when I was 21, but I have to say it didn’t work , in fact I was in an uneven distribution of moods, I really did not understand why I was happy at a minute and sad the other minute. I stoped taking the pills and I tried hard to change my point of view and be positive. I am happy to say I was successful when I tried the second treatment. I recommend you change your point of view, it just depends on you. I am sure it will work well just if you want because it worked well for me.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, your parents probably don't understand the cause and treatment of bi-polar illness. It's only been about 20 years since depression and bi-polar illnesses have been recognized as chemical imbalances. Many people your parents age were brought up to think that you avoid mood disorders by changing your attitude and keeping a positive outlook, and the medications used in the past often had side effects that were worse than the problem being treated.

You might be able to persuade your parents by showing them some web sites on bi-polar illness. Another option is to have one or both of them with you at a doctor's appointment, so you, the doctor, and your parents can discuss the treatment options.

One thing that people often forget about medication is that you can stop taking it if it causes problems. Its not like you have to worry about medication leading you down some path to destruction - you have complete control of what you put in your mouth. So, there is nothing to lose by trying a medication to see if it works. Challenge your parents - tell them there is nothing to lose by trying out medication because you will stop taking it if it doesn't work or makes things worse, and if it does work, your life will be better off.

Answer 4

From a parents view:

1. Some disorders are over diagnosed with little testing.
2. Some medicines may be helpful for a short time and more harmful in the long run.

Bi-polar is something that can be controlled as long as the medicine is correct.

Having an empty feeling sometimes makes me (not bi-polar) want to focus on what is wrong with me. When that happens, I know it is helpful to me if I reach out to someone else to help them with their problems. The problem is - I don't always do that.

Answer 5

Because they are your parents, they love you, and they are very careful about what they put in to your body. And because there is so much in the news about how twenty years later certain medications are doing permanent damage to people's bodies. However I work with mental health patients and I have a few college degrees in that area and I can tell you that there are medications out there for bipolar disorder that can help you. Lithium is a great mood stabilizer for the mood swings that go along with bipolar illness. Prozac has been around for twenty five years and has a really good record for helping people with bipolar disorder. I know i have clients who coudln't function without them because it makes such a difference in their lives.

Answer 6

The stigma that was associated with bipolar disease or what was called Manic Depression during your parents day was quite dramatic. Your parents probably don't understand about the medicine at all. There is no cure for bipolar just medicine that can mask the symptoms. The symptoms get worse if the medicine is not taken or if you go off your medicine. Maybe have them talk to your counselor about bipolar and the medicine you should be taking and why.

Answer 7

Are you recovering from a drug addiction? Bipolar is a very misdiagnosed disorder, most people are not bipolar they just don't or have never tried to handle life. I don't trust pills either, have you ever read all of the side affects? If you feel that you need a pill to help you then my theory is that you have had something happen to you in life that was bad, drugs mess with your body chemistry, so if you were a recovering addict, the feelings that you have are normal, your body is re-adjusting it's self. All doctors make money off of sick people and this is why they are so quick to push the pills, in my eyes most are no better then the drug dealers that are out there on the street.

Answer 8

First, they probably don't understand the disorder too well. Second, they don't understand how the medications work either.
Third, they might not have the money to purchase your medications for you.
It's a sad fact in this country that many have no health insurance, and those that do, have insurance companies that will not cover mental health issues.
Talk with them honestly, ask them to educate themselves on the issue of bipolar disorder, they owe you that much. And see if they have financial concerns because there are ways around them.

Answer 9

Maybe they are afraid you won't come off, or that they can ignore the problem if they don't address it. Mental illness have a stigma attached which just makes them that much more difficult to deal with.
I agree with the other guys, that pills will not solve the problem. However, I would not rule them out. Medications can often help us in the short term to deal with psychological problems. OTher times they are due to a chemical imbalance in our brains that can be corrected by pharmacological therapy. Speak to a psychologist or psychiatrist about your options. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Because 'pills' are just an easy way out and don't actually address a problem. They just dillude reality.

In order to actually 'fix' a problem, you need to address it head on. It's just life - not always easy. But, you'll feel like you actually accomplished something instead of just covering it up, hoping it will go away.

Talk to your parents about some healthy alternatives to your lack of an idea.