Have you ever self medicated?

Question

Before my diagnosis (bipolar), I self medicated big time. Drugs and alcohol mostly, but I have even used food like a drug. It seems that I become addicted to everything I touch... It is a constant, daily struggle to stay clean and sober but it is so worth it. I used to look for escape. Now I find it frightening to be out of control. Your experience?

I should have clarified that I've been clean and sober for 3 years. Yes, I am on meds. :)

Answer 1

I have, in the traditional sense of "self-medication". I hate the term anyway, but I felt like answering so here I am. My main ones were bulimia, cutting, cocaine, and ecstacy. I've quit all but the cutting, and I have an issue with pain pills like hydrocodone now, but I'm trying very hard to lay off the pills. My boyfriend's bipolar, and right now he's trying different methods of control other than medication, which he was on for years. I'm so proud of him right now, because he has more control of it, but now he's meditating and mainly taking a lot of time to calm down on things and if he feels or I notice a stage coming on, he goes to see his counselor, or he talks to me, and we just spend a few days away from the world. It works for him because his case is milder than some, and he really hates the medication so he wants to stay off it. Anyway, back to the question, he self-medicated majorly through drugs, cutting, and smoking cigarettes. He quit all but the smoking. (In fact we quit drugs together, so we do have each other as a support system, because somehow, when I want drugs he doesn't, and when he wants them, I don't. It works perfectly.) But basically when he was younger, his shrink told his family that they would probably only be able to get rid of two of his "coping methods" and they figured smoking was the best of the three. I don't agree, because it's expensive and could kill him at some point. I mean, I smoke but for 2 years I've stayed under a pack a week, at most. He smokes a pack in a day and a half, sometimes one day. It's beginning to piss me off. But it does help him out and I know it does. It's like my cutting and my pain pills. It helps make me work better with other people. We do both know that neither are good for us, and hopefully we'll reach a point where we can stop, but both of us know that what we did manage to quit is well-worth the work to stay clean from them.

Answer 2

whenever I am in the states it is very tempting to buy some drugs for this and that and self medicate. But it never really helped completely, like the worst pain fades, but there is always some lingering. Or the sleeping pills indeed, they work really good, but when you want to stop you can't sleep at all. I guess that is way they are called drugs. I try not to, but if it is for something really important and I need sleep, I take some, even if I know the days after I will regret it.

Answer 3

I think many of us self-medicate. From sleeping pills to common cold, we as a consumer society can't help it. The products are readily available to us so we do what any normal beings do. Get rid of whatever ails us as quick as possible, probably with no or less hassle. If popping a couple of Nyquil gelcaps relieve our cold, we take 'em in a heart beat. Addiction is entirely different matter though.

Answer 4

I started drinking pretty heavily when I started to feel depressed. That was a couple of months ago, and in a very short time, I went from a couple of shots of whiskey to an entire pint every day. I didn't want to face the fact that I needed help, and yes, I started to feel like I needed it constantly. I have to go to a partial hospital program which includes rehab starting this week. It's a terrible feeling, being out of control like that, and even now as I sit here, I would LOVE to have a drink, but there is no alcohol in the house and my boyfriend and I only have one car, which is usually in use by him. I try to keep my mind off of it, but I know how hard it is.

Answer 5

When I lived in California, I self-medicated on marijuana for my arthritis. Now that I live in Missouri, I won't take the risk. And sure enough, my joints are more creaky, and I am more cranky. As far as I can see, the ONLY thing wrong with cannabis is that it's illegal.

Answer 6

Yep, bi-polar too and have recently been severly traumatized, currently in "bi-polar mixed" which is the most severe state you can be in. I take Lamictal for bi-polar, it is a mood stabilizer, and it keeps me one way. Manic constantly although I have racing thoughts. Now not "self medicating", but sure did...and it doesn't work. Try not to do it, it is a very temporary fix. See your doc about your meds, I have tried several, see my doc in 2.5 weeks...I am certain we will try again

Answer 7

Are you seeing a Dr. for your problem? Also, are you on medication for being BiPolar? You need to have blood tests done to make sure the medication level is appropriate for you. Good luck..

Answer 8

My dad has bipolar, and he still drinks. And he also has these spells where u gotta run away from him, because he will squall tires and throw things for no reason. It is on a medicine now called lithum, it works really good for him. Best of luck to you and have a good one!

Answer 9

Nah, I am poopscared of pills, will drink nothing except vitamins without a prescription. I have two friends who are pharmacists, they are also scared of pills.

Answer 10

You know the first thing is to recognise there is an addictive cycle going on. Jesus is our healer, I know this is wierd to some people but He truly can break that off of you. What do you have to lose.