Have you ever wondered if your medication is causing some of your problems? Do they make you feel worse? If so, you'd probably benefit from reading psychiatrist Peter Breggin's book, "Why your Drug May be Your Problem: how and why to stop taking psychiatric medicine." So many of us are diagnosed with bipolar because of a crisis situation that usually involves our family, friends, or the police, and we're told by a psychiatrist that we were born with a hereditary, lifelong illness that involves imbalances in our brain chemistry. The problem with this approach is that many of us can't relate to this diagnosis because leading up to our crisis we may never had been involved in the mental health system. Interestingly enough, it's been shown in studies that people can have a temporary mental health crisis that can be a transforming experience if we integrate what we learned from the experience. A lot of people are diagnosed with bipolar or schizophrenia too early in their experience because our current mental health system pathologizes all mental disturbances. In fact, transpersonal psychologists have discovered a worldwide epidemic of what's known as the "spiritual emergency", a condition that resembles bipolar or schizophrenia, but is not actually a mental illness. What we need is the psychiatrist who is less eager to prescribe dangerous, toxic medications for people who are having a temporary extreme state of mind. I believe that if psychiatrist will allow people to experience their crisis fully without interferening with drugs or involuntary hospitalization, we'll find that a lot of people recover naturally and do not, in fact, need medication their entire life. Of course, the chronic patient who has been hospitalized many times throughout their life may indeed depend on this medication permanently, but how do we know that the medication itself isn't causing the disturbance?
Good points. You write very eloquently, and I appreciate the way you addressed both sides of the issue. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year following a suicide attempt. I was placed on mood stabilizing drugs which did not help my depression and subsequently I attempted suicide again. My doctor added an antidepressant to the mix and the combination has had a tremendously positive affect for me. You see, without the medication I cannot control my bipolar symptoms: racing thoughts, severe mood swings, suicidal tendencies, OCD, etc.
I think what it all boils down to is that you first, you have to know yourself; second you have to understand your medication - when and why you take it, as well as the side effects and long term effects. Last, you need to deal with a psychiatrist that you trust. She/he should be someone who respects you and someone you want to see, and most importantly they should be someone who hears what you say not just listens because sometimes picking up on things you don't say is important too.
Medicine may not be for everyone, but for some it is a life saver.
Well thank you for your feedback! I understand you may think your medications are helping you function, but how can you be sure your symptoms haven't disappeared while you're taking drugs? It may be the case that you have a true, pathological brain disease, but I encourage you to consider the alternative possibility that you may have had a spiritual emergency. If you're curious, and want to learn more, then please read Dr. Stanislov Grof (M.D., Phd)'s book, "Spiritual Emergency." You may indeed be having only a psychospiritual problem which does not require a lifelong treatment of toxic medications. If you ever do decide to stop taking your meds, then I recommend you read Breggin's book about how to do that safely. Psychiatric drugs can be most dangerous when trying to withdraw them from your system...
Bottom line .... I'm in a much better place today taking medication then I was this time last year. At the end of most days I can go to bed feeling healthy, happy and stable and you know, that works for me. So, you can put your message out there that medication may not be the answer for everyone and that there are other alternatives, but leave it at that. Don't try to talk people out of taking medication under the pretense, "hey, try it and see what happens to you...."
Given what I've read from many authoritative sources, these medications are dangerous, so I always encourage people to experiment life without them. That may not work for you, but it's working for a lot of people.
I have to put my 2 sense in this conversation. I was diagnosed with manic and bipolar. I now am clean 3 1/2 years and for the first time in my life I am not self medicating. for the first time in my life most all the time I want to live. My best friend stopped her medication staring smoking crack again in 1 week she was dead. She killed her self. Bipolar does kill if one does not take the right medical direction for them. I will never tell others what they should or should not do.. Getting off medication for some may cost them their life. For me, I'm clean, I am a mother a good one, I am a member of society living a life that wants to be lived. I still have some ups and downs, for the most part I am more stable today do to medications, and most of all lot of hard work. Inside work, spiritual work. For me, My God or whatever you call it loves me and wants me to take care of myself. That means for me doing what I can on my soul and my inside and allowing, trusting the DOCTORS whom he gifted take care of the mental part for me. So, having said that I wish everyone a safe journey and remember listen to the voice deep inside and never let others influence your inner self.
I think the label bi polar means different things to different people and many people are happy to see it as a biological disorder, to me mental distress is usually there because of a persons life experiences, it's totally normal when looked at in context. For me what others see as bi polar is a deeply spiritual experience, I have and maintain a spiritual reality in a mundane world and sometimes other people can't relate to it. I don't know how anyone can be labelled as mad or different when everyone has a different and unique perception and perspective on life. I co run a group called EleMental and we all have similar beliefs about psychological distress, we are also rapidly gaining momentum, as there is plenty of support for people who adhere to the medical model, but not much in the way of alternatives.
Sorry, I wrote the last post and didn't want to be anonymous! I think that there should be choice in taking psychiatric medication and when it is offered it should be part of a much more comprehensive package of care, with the person stipulating what they want, as it is they who are the expert on their life. The medical model, which often offers only labelling and drugs as a solution, is not focused on recovery, it is focused on maintenance. I know many people who have psychiatric labels, some take medication and some don't, but it's the people I know who aren't on medication that are truely thriving. I am currently being forced to take medication, but I will continue to strive to be drug free, I am neither a danger to myself or anyone else, psychiatrists just don't get me! To be fair I don't get them either!!
Thank you for all these posts... and, of course, the well-informed patient should be the decision-maker in the end... for perhaps for some these medicines are helpful (but how many actually get "well"?) If it means one can think in a more organized way to process their life difficulties--to the end that coping strategies are most effective, and the ability to function in a society that is often dangerous to one's health... then, I say, "go to it."
Thirty years ago, it was NOT said that one couldn't be "cured" of schizophrenia or bipolar (and people with the same sx as those now having these dx WERE actually "cured"--I read oodles of case hx to that effect in basic nursing!) To be told a disorder is "incurable" and "life-long" is so limiting as to be practically a "death warrant"... and frankly, you may think these doctors are "experts", but I'll guarantee you (I have had contact with literally hundreds of psychiatrists as well as intimate friends of over thirty years in that category) they simply can't and don't keep up on all the literature available (not only because they are too busy, but because there is more than anyone could ever integrate!) Now with the kind of information available so freely, those individuals going through their unique journeys are in a situation of "control" over their destiny (even though it may not seem so). Furthermore, the "biological psychiatrists" have lost a whole portion of our very life--spirituality... which is "hard-wired" into our beings. No one--including atheists--are not affected by this "hard-wiring". Most of the time those denying this aspect of our psyches--are simply not understanding the words used or else have a different "take" on what these experiences are and mean--but have them, themselves, in a form they don't recognize as "spiritual".
"Science of the human mind" is a philosophical/theological/quantum matter... and this has been addressed by quantum philosophers, religious philosophers, and phenominologists for at least a century--in rigorous scientific method. Those who do not read this wonderful and exciting scientific inquiry are the ones making the most noise about "spirituality" being pathological... totally ignorant of the real benefits to society because they only see the problems involved on the human level (original sin, as it is called in the RC Church).
To the one being "forced" to take psychiatric meds--have you seen the UN declaration that forced psychiatric treatment is "torture"? I am in contact with Armand Grover, the UN Special Rapporteur for torture and healthcare, now--after my observation, participation as a psych nurse, and then recipient of such "torture". Myself having seen the sx of "torture" in myself--I know the ramifications for those without recourse is devastating... the reason why so few who have involuntary treatment are ever productive citizens again. This, compounded with the illnesses themselves, take "amazing grace" to overcome.
All my love to you all--my fellow humans "created in God's image"! Faith (hope) is perhaps our greatest ally. keep on truckin'!