Salutations splendiferous folks,
Medication? Absolutely! Would not live without them. For me it chemically cuts off suicidal ideation, it allows me to be the best person I can be for myself, my husband who also has has Bipolar and to our children. Medication empowers me to live the way I choose to, rather than be pulled into changing and flipping directions.
I used to be on antipsychotics and they were metabolic positive. Much, much heavier, it took me five years I think, and a change of clinician to muster up the wherewithal to say, 'this isn't working, what else is there?' Now, I am on mood stabilisers and are working a treat.
For me, being on medication, I get to write my life story, I'm in control of my life in the best way I can be when everything else is in balance. For me, there had to be more than just a diagnosis and in many ways, a strength in vulnerability and courage to take lifelong medication. This was hard for me because I fought against taking paracetamol or any analgesia. Perceived weakness and self stigma, I think, can be tricky to navigate. Would not contemplate living without them.
