What convinced you to take medication?

I have looked through the reading material but I'm not sure if this is an appropriate question for this forum, so please tell me if I'm wrong

My bp family member told me that they have been in therapy but that now therapy was "no longer an option" because they were told it was time to consider medication and that is just... completely out of the question for them, just asking about it makes them angry and upsets them in an "end of discussion" kind of way; I think they are afraid (they are in a manic episode right now)

Have you been opposed to medication before, and was there something that changed your mind?

Hi Ambulatory. It is definitely not an inappropriate question. Actually, it is an interesting one that gives many here something to really think about.

I more than willingly take medications now, but that was definitely not the case for many years in the past. The reasons I didn't in the past varied, but it was mostly because I thought the illness would go away and potentially not come back. I thought of my bipolar symptoms as almost a type of "flu". Other times, I simply thought I could fight symptoms myself using the power of my mind. Unfortunately, there came a time when I couldn't succeed with that plan. That's not to say that I think therapy is useless for bipolar disorder. To the contrary, I think therapy is very helpful at managing stress and even reducing symptoms, in various ways, but I don't yet think it can cure my mental illness. I don't think I am (or ever would be) capable of preventing all symptoms without the help of medication(s). Perhaps there are some people that can, but they either have a different "flavor" of bipolar disorder, or they have some power that I don't have. Sometimes circumstances in life overpower us.

I know that many people reject medications because of stigma. The topic of stigma could be discussed at length.

A lot of people have heard bad things about medications, so are not willing to try them. A lot of people actually have some bad experiences with medications, so decide to abandon them, sometimes without even giving other medications a chance. Sometimes a given medication gives people a rough start, but the side effects eventually ease. Patience and tolerance are things many people struggle with. I definitely did when I was younger. As I've aged and learned a few specific things, I've gained more tolerance and patience.

Very often when manic, one thinks that "nothing is wrong". In fact, things may seem to be wonderful or they believe their mood/behavior is justified, in some way. And then why on earth would one want to end "wonderful" or justified behavior? And yet things can definitely turn ugly with ramifications. Those that love a person with bipolar disorder often see something the afflicted doesn't. I think many people here are much more willing to seek medication treatment when depressed than when manic. Sometimes when depressed, one (or a family member) may say "You can snap out of it. Keep your chin up." Other times a person with bipolar disorder may think that by denying the problem, it doesn't exist. Denial is a real problem for many mental health challenges. It's a shame that so often people need a terrible crisis (bottom) in order to accept help. Some have such crises and still don't accept help.

I obviously don't know why your family member has given up on therapy and/or refuses medications. Maybe one of the above-mentioned reasons? Maybe some other one. I feel for them and also for you and your family member's other loved ones and friends. It's sad and frustrating to see a loved one ill, but not accepting help. I understand both sides of this.

The first time and subsequent times I was on meds it was for my family. They were quick stints that didn’t last long. Now I’m on meds because off meds (even on meds) I’m paranoid and afraid. That’s no way to live. I still have times (like a lot) that I just want to dump the meds and say **** it. I’m unable to be reasoned with when manic. It’s take this OR go to the hospital and my husband has control my meds. I’m not trusted with them when manic. I’m on dissolvable medication so I just put it on my tongue and wait. Taking pills make me gag so I’m limited to what I can/willing to take. I’ve made peace with my depression for the most part. I know you’re not supposed to but it can’t hurt me. It sucks but it wont do permanent damage unless I lose my ability to logic through it. My pdoc and I play a game of medicating my most world destroying symptoms and scaring me away. My old pdoc had a deal with me that I wouldn’t stop meds without seeing him first but I skipped meds. I have a long history of non compliance. 13 years worth.

I would encourage you to have your family member find a therapist that is willing to work with them. I’m a case where therapists wont work with me without being medicated. I spend many appointments talking about meds and convincing me to keep taking my meds for the week. I’m non-compliant without therapy. Medication is scary and you don’t feel like your best self on most of them and honestly your not. Your your most stable self but a good mild hypomania is humans at their best. Unfortunately we can’t live in that state.

when i had mixed mania.

17 years old because I ran away from an abusive
Home and was horribly depressed and someone took me to get help

Bad things happen if I dont: mania, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, etc.

Thanks a lot for your insight!

I don't know if there are other reasons - my relative works an incredibly high-performance job, so giving up their sheer energy might be a part of it - but the main thing they told me about was that they had overheard a young psychiatrist saying that any bipolar medication was "soul-crushing" and several other horrible things my relative has deeply, deeply internalized (and that I don't want to repeat). Frankly, I hope I never meet that man, for both our sake's...
Anyway, rebuilding that trust so that they can see there are new things to try would be a great step foreward, because right now they feel completely hopeless in part because of their (supposed) lack of options

Meds are not soul crushing. Mixed mania with psychosis is soul crushing and almost every other horrible thing you can imagine. Meds slowed me down a bit, but I was able to cope. I cannot fathom experiencing the type of episode I had again. I'd do almost anything to avoid it.

Meds can feel bad at first, but they even out. You have to give them time to work and sometimes it takes time to find the right combo. However, many people take meds and lead full lives. A lot of our ability to succeed has to do with the other forms of treatment and lifestyle changes we are willing to make alongside taking medication. It isn't a silver bullet, but often a necessary evil for stability.

The problem is when you start medicine you've already had bipolar for so long that you a used to the mood swings. So not having the mood swings feels off. Stable feels odd. Medicine have side effects like tiredness that can feel Soul crushing because you're not used to it.

You only remember the highs and a lot of people can romanticize them. Screwing up on your work or getting mad at your family for not letting you do something that you find is fun or you need to do is it looked at as a bad thing. I really think the best time to sit down with your family member and talk about this is when they are depressed. I don't think they will hear you when their manic. Unless they need the hospital. Safety proof that life right now where they don't have access to 2 money, driving or any other safety issues.

Way back when I was diagnosed with MDD only I fought tooth and nail to not go on meds. I was only 21 and terrified. But I finally admitted that I had to sleep and that I needed medication for that and that it would be good if it helped the depression too. A few tries later I did feel better and sleep well (Remeron).

I was on and off meds for the next several years. By the time I was diagnosed with BP I had been on Celexa and ativan for months following months of trying meds and maxing out on them before they were fully helpful.

I'd been on lithium for about 2 months when I was diagnosed. I went on it for the protection against suicidal thoughts. My very bad pdoc at the time responded to my statement that my therapist suspected maybe bipolar was a factor by putting me on prozac. After that made me horribly mixed I found a doctor who knows everything about bipolar and he set me up with appropriate BP meds.

Frankly I was thrilled when I was on BP meds and not dealing with meds that made me worse.

I was diagnosed with bipolar when i was in psychosis...ever since then i have never questioned my need for them.

because it got to the stage where I just couldn't cope without them.

to me, it was a straight choice

live every day like a living hell, or find someway to make it better

I was never opposed to medication. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety for 20+ years before my current doctor diagnosed me as being on the bipolar spectrum. It made sense b/c I'd definitely have hypomanic irritability while taking antidepressants. I took the first antidepressant that was prescribed to me 30 years ago, Nortriptyline. When I went to see my current doctor I was open to taking the antipsychotic and antidepressant she prescribed b/c I was in a severe dysfunctional depression. I didn't mind the weight gain side effect for awhile because I went from not functioning/lying on the sofa to running my household, cooking, being a much more involved mom, working out every day, etc.

I was floridly psychotic and almost jumped off the Fremont Bridge (by far the tallest bridge in town). I consider it a miracle from God that I did not. I was happy to take whatever they wanted me to take after that.

I didn’t have much choice at first because I was only 14 but I stopped taking them somewhere between 18-20 because I thought I was better. And, I was much better until I had a major psychotic break at age 28 where I completely lost my mind and put my family (husband and kids) at risk. It was then that I knew I had to start taking them and can never again stop.