Many mentally ill people stop their medication because they believe they are "well" because they feel better. What they don't realize, is that the reason they feel better is because the medication is working. Coming off the medication is the absolute worst thing someone could do-it causes the person to crash and for the medication to immediately stop working. Bipolar cannot be cured, it can only be controlled. Medications to two things-stopping an acute episode; and preventing a further episode. A good example is insulin. Insulin is used to control certain types of diabetes, but does not cure the the underlying disease, it just helps to control the symptoms so the diabetic patient can live a more normal life. If the insulin is stopped, symptoms of the disease reappear. Although the insulin helps to control many of the the symptoms, the diabetes is still present. Other examples are high blood pressure and arthritis.
Please, please, please speak to your docor before stopping ANY medication. Even if you feel horrible, stopping your medication can make things 100 times worse.
On that note, this will probably be my last post in 2009. Let's hope that 2010 brings lots of health, hope, and happiness to all of us! Hope you all have a wonderful New Years!
Let's keep in mind in the next year:
"My recovery from manic depression has been an evolution, not a sudden miracle." - PATTY DUKE (Bipolar)
I like the comparison to diabetics and insulin. I wouldn't have thought of that one, but is makes perfect sense! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!!
No problem! It`s one I use A LOT when trying to explain it to people.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year`s to yourself as well! :)