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Re: So much talk of meds...Isn't there a better way?

Posted by JohnL on June 10, 1999, at 3:35:55

In reply to So much talk of meds...Isn't there a better way?, posted by Trey on June 9, 1999, at 18:13:10

> I have been diagnosed bipolar and have been taking 600mg of Lithobid a day for over 10 years now. Fortunately, my life is stable and healthy. All the horror stories I have heard about manic-depressives slipping back into either mania or depression involve cessation of or tinkering with their meds. For this reason, I faithfully take my little salmon-colored tablets daily - once in the morning, and once before bedtime. I shudder to think of losing control of my mental processes ever again.
> Still, I firmly believe that meds treat not the cause of our distresses, but the symptoms. Don't we want to get to the root of it all, and live our lives happily and productively WITHOUT the aid of external chemicals? Pulling up this forum and seeing post after post about various medications really makes me think - are we looking in the right places? Even as I
> continue to take my lithium, I am constantly searching my soul and attempting to come up with answers. I believe more than anything that we are on this planet to confront our fears and our internal enemies - do battle with them and emerge, with any luck, triumphant. There are no external enemies; the key to our happiness lies within our SELVES. If only we can clear a pathway to that place and keep it accessible! Tell me your thoughts...

Trey, my family doc says when he started practice there were no medicines for mental illness. Sufferers were shunned, locked up, discarded by society, and lived miserable lives without hope. His face lights up with pure joy as he speaks of hundreds of patients who have had their lives totally transformed with medicines of the last few decades. Sure it would be nice to find the root cause, rather than treating symptoms, but that goes for countless other ills as well, not just mental illness. Don't you think diabetics feel the same way? Anyway, you're right, meds offer only relief. Deeper answers come from an unwavering faith in God, Who for some unknown uncomprehendable reason to us will make goodness out of our condition. If you are stable on your medicine, sample a few Churches in your area, just for grins if nothing else. You might be surprised. Nothing to lose. Also, most localities have depression groups to join where you can gain immense healing and wisdom by just talking with others just like you. I believe we who suffer are stronger than the "normal", and we have been blessed with a gift of greater insight and wisdom than the "normal". Ironically, there are plenty of good things that come from our suffering, just as fragrant roses grow out of ugly thorny branches. My counselor told me of a research study done, where everyone in a room wrote their problems down, put them in a hat. Each person reached in the hat to pull out a piece of paper, to see if they would trade their problems for the random one pulled out of the hat. You know what, EVERYBODY decided they were better off just as they were. If nothing else, you should feel VERY fortunate that you are somewhat stable. Most of us at this site are clearly unstable and in the midst of struggling to find relief for our suffering, and thus the many posts discussing meds. You at least seem to have already found some stability, and are miles ahead of a lot of us. Thank God, thank your doctor, and thank the pharmaceutical companies for that. JohnL.


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poster:JohnL thread:7217
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990601/msgs/7239.html