Managing Without Meds?

[WomanAtTheWell]

Well, I REALLY think it's BP now and I think that I am hypo-manic (maybe manic) right now.

Yesterday, I had to get up in front of a group of people and present something. I was very anxious while I was up there. One of my friends, who happens to be a therapist (but doesn't know that I might have any mental health diagnosis (at least not from me telling her...)) said that it seemed like my thoughts were racing... She was right!

I have an appt for August 12th, hopefully I will get something to help then, but I was wondering - in the meantime, what are some of your techniques for managing when you aren't on meds?

(there might be a similar thread somewhere else, if so please help direct me to it and feel free to post in here or privately!)

THANKS!

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear WomenAtTheWell


If we were able to do that, we would not need doctors or meds. There sure is a lot of bipolars that would like to believe just that!!!


You may well have been triggered by the stress of the meeting. Attempt to stay away from all stress.


Check out what bananas can do for you on the Internet. Also any other foods or herbs that would give you some relief.


STAY AWAY FROM ILLEGAL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL!!! BIPOLARS SEEKING RELIEF BECOME THE KINGS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE!!!


If you really understand bipolar then you know there is NO understanding.


We can do GREAT CRAZY things when our mind says it's the RIGHT thing to do.


DANGER!!!



TRY TO REMEMBER:




X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven

 

[PrairieGurl]

Dear WomenAtTheWell


If we were able to do that, we would not need doctors or meds. There sure is a lot of bipolars that would like to believe just that!!!





STAY AWAY FROM ILLEGAL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL!!! BIPOLARS SEEKING RELIEF BECOME THE KINGS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE!!!

I SO AGREE WITH WONDERWALEYE!!!!!!! Re: the drugs and alcohol...because I was "stupid" enough to try this, I can tell you from my experience, the consequences of this are TOO HIGH!!!!!!!!

I also was a bp that would of preferred NOT to be on meds. The times I was not on meds...I felt like I WAS going crazy! Because you can't control your mind during the hypomanias or manias I know of no way to deal with it without meds.


I your doc or pdoc has the wisdom to be able to diagnosis you and will give you the right meds. Make sure you tell him EVERYTHING! (to help you... you can right it all down)

Please let us know how your appt. Aug 12th goes.

With s & s,
Wendy

 

[walshclan]

Womanatthewell:

If you are desparate and you need to control your bp and you don't have meds here is how I used to control it before I had meds. I don't know if it will work for you and I don't recommend it beyond when you get your meds but fwiw...

I went years without meds just managing my bp with sleep. I don't recommend it but I didn't know I was bp and I was doing the best I could. When I was hypomanic (I wasn't dangerous) I just rode it out... no alcohol, no drugs no caffeine. I got lots of work done. When I switched to depressed I would sleep for a while and then when it was enough I would stay up late a few nights in a row and then I would go hypomanic again.

 

[mysojourn]

Womanatthewell:

I went years without meds just managing my bp with sleep. I don't recommend it but I didn't know I was bp and I was doing the best I could. When I was hypomanic (I wasn't dangerous) I just rode it out... no alcohol, no drugs no caffeine. I got lots of work done. When I switched to depressed I would sleep for a while and then when it was enough I would stay up late a few nights in a row and then I would go hypomanic again.

walshclan, this is exactly what I did too before meds, in order to ride it out. I knew these episodes would only last a few days typically. While manic I would start many projects, start writing, drawing and also as a grown woman, I literally lie in bed or sit close to my mother while watching TV for comfort and then take a pm pain reliever, like Excederine or Tylenol PM every night to put me to sleep. In my high anxiety states, I would "force" my family - my mother, sisters anyone nearby to hold hands and pray with me and within minutes and hours without fail, my symptoms began to fade quickly until gone and then I cycle down. And while depressed, I would spend time alone, walk, read, pray, talk and cry until the cycle was done and little by little the depression lifted, just like a washing machine cycle. At least with my episodes. My mother has always been there to help me through my epsisodes giving me comfort. During these times, I appreciate my family so much.

The very best thing you can do Womanathewell, is cling to the hem of Jesus' garment until you can get on some medicine to help these cycles and pray hard. He will not let you down. You have internal coping mechanisms wrought by this weakness that makes us very strong in times of anxiety, fear and pain.

Pray, pray, pray without ceasing... 1Thes 5:16

Do no be anxious about everything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7(Yes, the promise stands sure even for and especially for the bipolar!)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... Phil 4:13 We really can!

 

[mysojourn]

Womanatthewell:

I went years without meds just managing my bp with sleep. I don't recommend it but I didn't know I was bp and I was doing the best I could. When I was hypomanic (I wasn't dangerous) I just rode it out... no alcohol, no drugs no caffeine. I got lots of work done. When I switched to depressed I would sleep for a while and then when it was enough I would stay up late a few nights in a row and then I would go hypomanic again.

walshclan, this is exactly what I did too before meds, in order to ride it out. I knew these episodes would only last a few days typically. While manic I would start many projects, start writing, drawing and also as a grown woman, I literally lie in bed or sit close to my mother while watching TV for comfort and then take a pm pain reliever, like Excederine or Tylenol PM every night to put me to sleep. In my high anxiety states, I would "force" my family - my mother, sisters anyone nearby to hold hands and pray with me and within minutes and hours without fail, my symptoms began to fade quickly until gone and then I cycle down. And while depressed, I would spend time alone, walk, read, pray, talk and cry until the cycle was done and little by little the depression lifted, just like a washing machine cycle. At least with my episodes. My mother has always been there to help me through my epsisodes giving me comfort. During these times, I appreciate my family so much.

The very best thing you can do Womanathewell, is cling to the hem of Jesus' garment until you can get on some medicine to help these cycles and pray hard. He will not let you down. You have internal coping mechanisms wrought by this weakness that makes us very strong in times of anxiety, fear and pain.

Pray, pray, pray without ceasing... 1Thes 5:16

Do no be anxious about everything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7(Yes, the promise stands sure even for and especially for the bipolar!)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... Phil 4:13 We really can!

p.s. I didn't know anyone else could trigger a hypomanic episode in times of need like me. A sure fire way for me to go manic is to stay awake, coffee-up, buy a pack of cigarettes, pace and voila! I'm wired and able to finish a big research paper, study for finals, ace all my tests. I got nearly straight A's in college. I did some really brilliant college work while manic.

See, beauty for ashes. But no, I do not recommend this either. It can't be good for your health to live on coffee and cigarettes and no sleep for many days just for that natural "high".

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear ALL BIPOLARS!!!IF BIPOLAR IS A CHEMICAL IMBALLANCE ( WHICH THEY SAY IT IS ) HOW COULD WE RELY ON HOLDING OUT TILL IT'S CORRECTS ITSELF.DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA JUST HOW MANY BIPOLARS ARE IN PRISION???IF YOU DON'T THINK OTHERS HAVE COMPASSION FOR BIPOLAR FOLKS, WAIT TILL YOU DO A CRIME.DOES ANYONE WANT TO ADVISE ANOTHER TO TAKE THIS CHANCE??? ( I SURE WILL BE GLAD WHEN THEY GET THIS SITE FIXED ) steven

 

[berry2000]

Odd enough before medication I too medicated with sleep. It was something about sleep restoring the chemical balance in my brain. I was young so I couldn't verbalize all I knew was that I needed to sleep sleep sleep. I had stressed my body out so much. After a week or two of sleeping I would pick myself up and start again.

 

[walshclan]

I am not saying that as a first course of attack we should wait it out but when we have few other choices (we don't have a pdoc appt for a couple weeks) then we do what we must. If she's lived her whole life without the meds and she has to survive 2 more weeks and is looking for coping mechanisms I don't think she is going to end up in prison. For heaven's sake she doesn't even know that she is bipolar.

WomanAtTheWell: How are you feeling now?