Posted by mellow on December 3, 2010, at 2:20:48
In reply to Coping with People who don't understand Meds, posted by KathrynLex on December 2, 2010, at 20:27:50
Meds and mental illness in general are controversial topics by nature. I will say I have encountered people along my journey who have not been very understanding. I practice 12 step recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and I have had people from my meetings tell me that I am not sober if I take psychotropic drugs.
Thankfully many people in AA/NA recognize that as a bunch of hogwash. My sponsor is also bipolar and he takes lithium so we help each other. I also have friends who are anti-psychiatry that say I have been duped and that I am acting like a victim. They say I have allowed an industry to convince me that I am sick thus turning me into a life long client.
Luckily after meeting an incredible therapist I have learned that recovery from mental illness is about growing as a person in addition to taking our meds. I finally got the ssri out of my cocktail this year and my doctor seems to think we can get me off antipsychotics and down to just Lamictal in 2011 because of the hard work I have done in therapy for the last 18 months.
It was also hard for me because my wife is a dietitian and she has seen all the studies about the weight gain and diabetes associated with psych meds. I gained 80 pounds on meds. I've managed to get 40 of those pounds off this year by jogging and watching my diet. While everyone in my family has encouraged me to stay medicated my wife has always voiced the opinion that I am not mentally ill and do not need to be a medicated to the extent that I am. When I would make emergency appointments with my pdoc she would get upset and say I needed to learn to live with discomfort. This was a source of grief between us.
I think people who have never had a psychosis, gone manic, been suicidal or been committed to a psych ward have no idea how incredibly frightening our lives can become. Even our own families lose their empathy over time.
That's why I know my journey is my own. I have to do what is right for me. Nobody else has to live my life. So I will take meds if I want. I find a lot of joy in sharing my thoughts with you all. That's why it's important to find support wherever you can, whether it's with a friend over coffee or with a bunch of stranger on the internet ; )
peace
Bipolar II
Lamictal 100, Topamax 50, Risperdal 0.5, B 100 complex, B 12, Vit C, Cal/Mag with D3, Fish Oil, High Potency Multi Vitamin
poster:mellow
thread:972254
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101117/msgs/972285.html