You cant just come off meds but bi polar is a blanket diagnosis covering Complex PTSD..with therapy and insight to self regulate we CAN learn new ways…all I am trying to do is raise awareness and highlight other ways of dealing with trauma or emotional issues..lithium is the damaging one he speaks about here.
I was on lithium for a while and came off of it because I had heard so many bad things about it. I’m glad I made that choice. And yes, I totally agree there are many different ways we can seek help for our issues beside medication!
Thanks for sharing this!! I am SHARING everywhere I can as well!! I have personal experience with most of these meds and side effects and the difficulties of weaning OFF. I do take my one anti-depressant but everything else I’m DONE with!! I was taking ,oh, 10 or 12 pills two or three times a day back in the late 90’s. Oh MY!! In my case I Learned better coping skills and non drug ways to Heal …
Blessings
Im glad you agree…over presciption with no alternatives is what Im trying to bring attention to..my own sisters were on cocktails as well with no therapy or dietry advice or stress reduction and inner child work…those are the things thst help us heal and be more self caring. X
Reblogged this on The Tie Dyed Hippie Shaman and commented:
Most definitely True and worth the watch!! I even have an acquaintance who suffered a Traumatic Brin Injury that has taken her MANY years to recover from. Just from her prescribed meds for bi-polar disorder taken exactly as prescribed. What are “we” doing to our Youth?? Many schools these days REQUIRE “disruptive” students to take meds or NOT return to school. ???
That is out and out abuse and its not forgiveable really… Its endemic. I am sorry it took a while to answer this comment I was a bit over burdened by some responses to this post. ❤ ❤ We know better!
I get what he’s saying, but the truth is, ANY medication (not just psychiatric drugs) taken long term can be dangerous. My dad is on medication for his heart, that’s also potentially dangerous long term, but he needs it in order to keep his heart functioning. It’s a catch-22. I don’t think demonizing medication is helpful either. Chemotherapy for example is also dangerous, yet life-saving as well. I’m on an anti-depressant and anti-psychotic, and from previous experience (twice) going off these meds I’ve just been depressed and suicidal all the damn time again, just like my entire life before even knowing there’s medication for depression. So I’d rather have a POTENTIAL (not definite) 20 years less life, but feel “normal” and “functional” for my remaining time and enjoy life, than go back to how I was before the medication and continue living in misery for an additional 20 years, if this makes sense? Sometimes I don’t express my thoughts in writing very well, lol. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughrs Rayne. I appreciate your point of view. However you also do therapy some dont get offered that oportunity there are many drug free ways to regulate chemistry or assist true healing. If you find its works for you great, i have seen the damage to my family and when there were other ways that breaks my heart. I dont see the good in it..but thats just my perspective.And medicating feelings to numb or block insight or catharsis is different to medications for pure physiology.
I respect your opinion and point of view, I really do. I’m basically just saying that I don’t think (as he suggests and the lady who’s blog you linked to the other day) it’s strictly a black and white thing. That now everyone should come off their meds. A friend of mine (we’ve been friends for almost 22 years now) has a sister who has Schizophrenia and I’ve seen first hand the devastation on both my friend’s sister and her family, when she stops taking her medication. She only started it about 10 years ago, and it was a life-changer. She’s a danger both to herself and those around her when she’s not on medication. Her brother landed up in hospital when she attacked him with a chainsaw during one of her “episodes” before she got placed on medication. There are people who unfortunately really need these drugs. Another friend of mine vowed to never take any psychiatric drugs, and she’s tried alternative medicine, spiritual practices, etc, but none of them helped much. When she eventually caved and started taking the psychiatric drugs, her life improved drastically. Oh, she has Bipolar, and when she was in her manic phases, she would take huge risks that almost cost her her life on a few occasions.
I believe though (and it angers me) that medical practitioners prescribe them way too freely. Those who need them, should be attending therapy regularly as well, otherwise it’s just a band aid. What happened with your sister was wrong. Those so called professionals messed up. So I can most certainly understand why you feel so strongly about this topic.
As for me, I don’t plan to be on my medication for the rest of my life. And I’m one of the lucky ones in that I found a combination that is working incredibly well for me. I’m not over medicated like a lot of people are. I don’t want to walk around like a zombie, not feeling anything. On my current meds, I still have my meltdowns, I can still feel tremendous emotional pain, but it’s more manageable and the suicidality that used to be there nearly constantly only appears rarely. I’ve also found (and I’ve heard from others as well) that used in conjunction with good therapy, these drugs help with the therapy process as well. From my own experience, it keeps me stable and motivated enough to do the work that’s required. So yes, my ultimate goal is to go off my medication completely when I’m ready.
Dont apologise Rayne. I see that your point of view has value and its not a black and white thing. Thanks so much for sharing from your personal experience. I can see my view may appear biased and not take in the full spectrum of experience and extreme cases so thank you for pointing out these experiences to me. I value your opinion and perspective a great deal. You can never over share here ❤
It certainly is as it involves the soul of a person and that is so little recognised by our culture. I hope to provide helpful perspectives here. As far as my own experience goes i have sidestepped meds for most of my recovery and I saw the damage to two siblings. Each have to find their own path though and hopefully it is a path with heart. Thanks for your support, feeback and being here ❤
It certainly does involve the heart and soul of a person. Right now meds are being taken after not taking them and an attempted suicide happened. Of course, suicide attempts happened while on meds. It is just is so hard yet each
morning arrives. Hope.
Do hang on… its such a rough ride and we dont get help to bring what is inside of us out and then what is inside is a lot of pain so we can feel its all too hard to face and want that pain to be over. I do understand. both sisters made attempts on their lives. Reach out where and when you can…. Sending you love and strength and courage xoxo
I dont really know if meds change suicidal feelings anyway and its so complex. I can understand the need to calm pain or a nervous system that is over burdened and so I understand the felt need for meds, I really truly do. I just walked a different path xoxo
Emerging From The Dark Night 
Wow. I am so naive. Thanks for posting this!
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You cant just come off meds but bi polar is a blanket diagnosis covering Complex PTSD..with therapy and insight to self regulate we CAN learn new ways…all I am trying to do is raise awareness and highlight other ways of dealing with trauma or emotional issues..lithium is the damaging one he speaks about here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was on lithium for a while and came off of it because I had heard so many bad things about it. I’m glad I made that choice. And yes, I totally agree there are many different ways we can seek help for our issues beside medication!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Im so glad you did that it takes strength. Xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing this!! I am SHARING everywhere I can as well!! I have personal experience with most of these meds and side effects and the difficulties of weaning OFF. I do take my one anti-depressant but everything else I’m DONE with!! I was taking ,oh, 10 or 12 pills two or three times a day back in the late 90’s. Oh MY!! In my case I Learned better coping skills and non drug ways to Heal …
Blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Im glad you agree…over presciption with no alternatives is what Im trying to bring attention to..my own sisters were on cocktails as well with no therapy or dietry advice or stress reduction and inner child work…those are the things thst help us heal and be more self caring. X
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Tie Dyed Hippie Shaman and commented:
Most definitely True and worth the watch!! I even have an acquaintance who suffered a Traumatic Brin Injury that has taken her MANY years to recover from. Just from her prescribed meds for bi-polar disorder taken exactly as prescribed. What are “we” doing to our Youth?? Many schools these days REQUIRE “disruptive” students to take meds or NOT return to school. ???
LikeLike
That is out and out abuse and its not forgiveable really… Its endemic. I am sorry it took a while to answer this comment I was a bit over burdened by some responses to this post. ❤ ❤ We know better!
LikeLike
fascinating! that was so interesting!
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I get what he’s saying, but the truth is, ANY medication (not just psychiatric drugs) taken long term can be dangerous. My dad is on medication for his heart, that’s also potentially dangerous long term, but he needs it in order to keep his heart functioning. It’s a catch-22. I don’t think demonizing medication is helpful either. Chemotherapy for example is also dangerous, yet life-saving as well. I’m on an anti-depressant and anti-psychotic, and from previous experience (twice) going off these meds I’ve just been depressed and suicidal all the damn time again, just like my entire life before even knowing there’s medication for depression. So I’d rather have a POTENTIAL (not definite) 20 years less life, but feel “normal” and “functional” for my remaining time and enjoy life, than go back to how I was before the medication and continue living in misery for an additional 20 years, if this makes sense? Sometimes I don’t express my thoughts in writing very well, lol. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing your thoughrs Rayne. I appreciate your point of view. However you also do therapy some dont get offered that oportunity there are many drug free ways to regulate chemistry or assist true healing. If you find its works for you great, i have seen the damage to my family and when there were other ways that breaks my heart. I dont see the good in it..but thats just my perspective.And medicating feelings to numb or block insight or catharsis is different to medications for pure physiology.
LikeLike
I respect your opinion and point of view, I really do. I’m basically just saying that I don’t think (as he suggests and the lady who’s blog you linked to the other day) it’s strictly a black and white thing. That now everyone should come off their meds. A friend of mine (we’ve been friends for almost 22 years now) has a sister who has Schizophrenia and I’ve seen first hand the devastation on both my friend’s sister and her family, when she stops taking her medication. She only started it about 10 years ago, and it was a life-changer. She’s a danger both to herself and those around her when she’s not on medication. Her brother landed up in hospital when she attacked him with a chainsaw during one of her “episodes” before she got placed on medication. There are people who unfortunately really need these drugs. Another friend of mine vowed to never take any psychiatric drugs, and she’s tried alternative medicine, spiritual practices, etc, but none of them helped much. When she eventually caved and started taking the psychiatric drugs, her life improved drastically. Oh, she has Bipolar, and when she was in her manic phases, she would take huge risks that almost cost her her life on a few occasions.
I believe though (and it angers me) that medical practitioners prescribe them way too freely. Those who need them, should be attending therapy regularly as well, otherwise it’s just a band aid. What happened with your sister was wrong. Those so called professionals messed up. So I can most certainly understand why you feel so strongly about this topic.
As for me, I don’t plan to be on my medication for the rest of my life. And I’m one of the lucky ones in that I found a combination that is working incredibly well for me. I’m not over medicated like a lot of people are. I don’t want to walk around like a zombie, not feeling anything. On my current meds, I still have my meltdowns, I can still feel tremendous emotional pain, but it’s more manageable and the suicidality that used to be there nearly constantly only appears rarely. I’ve also found (and I’ve heard from others as well) that used in conjunction with good therapy, these drugs help with the therapy process as well. From my own experience, it keeps me stable and motivated enough to do the work that’s required. So yes, my ultimate goal is to go off my medication completely when I’m ready.
Sorry for the long comment, I got carried away. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dont apologise Rayne. I see that your point of view has value and its not a black and white thing. Thanks so much for sharing from your personal experience. I can see my view may appear biased and not take in the full spectrum of experience and extreme cases so thank you for pointing out these experiences to me. I value your opinion and perspective a great deal. You can never over share here ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤
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Also my aim isnt to demonise anything just point out what I see as saliant truths.
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A thought provoking post. Thank you for your insight and for all the other insights posted. Mental illness is a very heart breaking issue.
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It certainly is as it involves the soul of a person and that is so little recognised by our culture. I hope to provide helpful perspectives here. As far as my own experience goes i have sidestepped meds for most of my recovery and I saw the damage to two siblings. Each have to find their own path though and hopefully it is a path with heart. Thanks for your support, feeback and being here ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly does involve the heart and soul of a person. Right now meds are being taken after not taking them and an attempted suicide happened. Of course, suicide attempts happened while on meds. It is just is so hard yet each
morning arrives. Hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do hang on… its such a rough ride and we dont get help to bring what is inside of us out and then what is inside is a lot of pain so we can feel its all too hard to face and want that pain to be over. I do understand. both sisters made attempts on their lives. Reach out where and when you can…. Sending you love and strength and courage xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dont really know if meds change suicidal feelings anyway and its so complex. I can understand the need to calm pain or a nervous system that is over burdened and so I understand the felt need for meds, I really truly do. I just walked a different path xoxo
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https://addictedfitnessblog.wordpress.com/
Started writing about addiction
Hope you like it
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Thanks I check it out
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And thank you for being my 990th valued follower.. its taken 4 years to get to here and I so appreciate connecting with you…:)
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Me too ….all the very best for future 😃
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And with your recovery 🙂
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