Nice to hear from someone who doesn't subscribe to the forced-fed belief that taking drugs are the be-all and end-all solution to everything. Bipolar disorder is a complex thing and isn't totally negative. As you expressed in your post, the highs are... sublime. Not just that, you get shit done when you're on them.SkarKrow said:I was diagnosed a while ago and refused the medication, lithium, because it scares me and I don't really want to change, as I've said elsewhere the highs are amazing and it's a part of who I am.Womplord said:I've also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When I was diagnosed about a year ago with type 1, I had already had some suicide attempts, and I had a manic episode after that. I was at the end of my rope and was put on lithium which I can say did wonders for my mood, but had too many side effects to be bearable.
People think bipolar disorder is too 'hard-wired' of a disorder to do anything about it, which I think is rubbish. I had another period of instability after I gave up lithium, but after making a lot of great friends, exercising almost daily and using omega 3 supplements my mood swings are far less, though I still have swings (going through a mild depressive period now unfortunately). I find it hard to believe that taking mind-altering drug is going to do any good in the long run.
Exercising and eating better does help, I'm sadly not in a great position to do either, I can't afford good food tbh I'm on a toast and canned food from the cupboard from years ago diet until I can find a job.
I'm on a mild period now I think, I get them a few times a year and within them some days are better than others, today isn't as bad as yesterday was for example but I still don't want to see daylight.
But yeah, it's important to keep bipolar in check because it can cause so many problems in your life. I'm not against that idea, just the belief that drugs should be the go-to solution. It's proven that they lower your intelligence and lifespan, and when I was on them I was very lethargic, gained weight, etc. It seems like something that will reduce your level of success. There has to be a better way, or at least you have to try.
Anyways, good luck to you.