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We all know (or all should know) that psychiatric medications can’t fix a broken life. Psychiatric medications are designed to treat the symptoms of a specific disorder, such as bipolar disorder. That means that psych meds can treat things like depression. This is a huge win for anyone suffering from depression and is miracle enough, trust me. And although some symptoms of the disorder, like bipolar or depression, may remain, (ideally they won’t, but most of us don’t live in an ideal situation) there are still many positive things that psych meds can do for you and one thing that psychiatric medications can do for your is increase your resilience to things like life stressors.
tress and BipolarI’ve written before about how stress can lead to bipolar hypomania (among other things) and about how decision-making is tough, especially making the big decisions with bipolar disorder. And right now I’m in the midst of making a huge decision – I’m buying a condo. This means making big decision after big decision, not to mention all the little decisions squished in between. This is a hugely stressful situation.
And, honestly, this type of stress can easily have me lying on the floor praying for daylight. And, don’t get me wrong, it has. But what I can say is that I would expect to be doing much worse at this point and the fact that I’m not is a result of my psychiatric medication cocktail.
Resilience is your ability to withstand the negative things in your life like loss and stress, and developing resilience is critical in surviving bipolar disorder. Resilience is what makes horrible things not quite so horrible because resilience is what protects you from your bipolar getting oodles and oodles worse.
And while many people are down on psych meds, I can honestly say that mine have improved my stress resilience to the point where I can handle this very tough, grown-up, horrendously stressful situation.
[It’s worth noting there are other ways to develop resilience too – many of which are taught in therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. Psychotherapeutic methods of resilience-building and stress-tolerance have also been very important in my life.]
So, I just want to take one minute and thank the medications for allowing me to survive this stress, not make my bipolar get too out of hand and even allow a little enjoyment through here and there. Yes, this is just another example of the fact that psych meds do work.
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
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Psych meds admittedly help in many ways, stress is certainly one of the
shining stars in a normally black sky. While reducing stress PM increases
aggression and anger – from a personal point of view. There is nothing nice
about this medication. It sacrifices one result for another. Conclusion: the brain
is too complex to be chemically tweeked!
Natasha, I’m happy for you and yes I’m really happy for you. Enjoy your new living space. It’s a blank canvas. Yes!!
After I recently emailed myself out of two very close friendships I’ve been able to step back and say, yes, I really screwed up but no, I’m not going to let that start the shame spiral to hell. It was a huge mistake and I was irrational and mean. These were my closest friends and I didn’t know where the rage was coming from but I could not stop.
I was triggered, no doubt, but I’ve never reacted like that to anyone. A lot of things came into play. Life. My bipolar life.
That would have totally destroyed me in the distant past. I would have never forgiven myself but I did this time and it didn’t take two years. I told myself to let it be. There was nothing I could un-say. I couldn’t explain what happened to me much less them.
I let it go and that was that. Without therapy and psychiatric treatment I would have been sleeping in the psych ward for a while. Instead, I started eating better and have tried to take better care of myself. I instinctively knew that I had to make changes immediately to send a message to myself. That message was that I’ve hurt two friends but I’m not going to hurt me, too. Not this time.
I’m grateful for the help that is out there. I owe my life to it. There is no question and no doubt.
To put this in perspective, I’ve been on over 60 medications in countless combinations for over thirty years. I’m in good health. I have no lasting, chronic side effects from any of these meds. Zero. None. My last physical? Low Vitamin D. That was it. I’m 61 and in better shape than most people my age. Truth.
Hi Natasha I agree psyche meds do help with your life. A positive attitude towards taking your meds helps too.
we have found that taking my lithium closer together during the day you know morning dose then within 12 hours evening dose. I cant work full time except in film & tv shows ads and things…Still have an eye out for that feature film….mmmm Stress coping has not been that good during 40 hour jobs. Good sleep, meditation ,eating regularly, good sex life,exercise, regular meds -socialising, attending satsang has all helped with living normally.
Yes, yes, and yes!!!! My med cocktail allowed me to handle a breakup with someone without falling to my knees in debilitating, crippling, fetal-position agony. I have perspective on what went wrong, insight into my own contributions to the breakup, and a sense of hope that there is someone else out there for me. 8 months ago, before I started meds, I would have blamed myself for not being good enough, believe I’ll never meet anyone again, ruminate on all the things I did wrong, berate myself, sob on the floor, and then have a strong desire to kill myself!
Also in regards to medication,I think I’d be in jail ( for violent crimes)
Or dead ( from cycling moods so extensively off the chart)
Only deep within ourselves do we really know,may not tell…for fear or shame….
What some of us can be capable without meds ( after the meds give you the clarity to really acknowledge it!
How I wish,I know I’ve said this before psychiatrists would read these things!!!
I’m sure there will will be individiduals on the pro/ con side of this one.
For myself,sometimes,oddly,I find my meds work better certain days than others…
Wonder if others have also experienced this…
No,I’ve not missed any…I’m very cautious re that part of my life.
But,I agree that it’s not only meds,ah if it were that simplistic…..
I try & eat healthfully ( well,treats allowed I’m human!!)
Forbid caffeine ( I’m not saying I’m Ghandi,but for me it’s a ticket to hell)
Try get that nap in…
Restrict ( evenings) too much time online or listening to music I like ( classic rock…) LOUD…..
Yup..sip the ginger tea to help after I take my med cocktail,forbid street drugs,any alcohol at ALL….
Easy when you’ve an ulcer!
If I don’t succeed to my expectations,I’ve learned ( was very very difficult) to lower those mega high expectations.
Now if I could only get my former thin rockin physique back!!!!
With severe pain issues,my excercise is walking…..
Motto of the day is: when in doubt leave it alone,& if you don’t put your own health first..you can’t help anyone else…..
Natasha ironically,months ( many) I was exactly in your shoes…..
I was so hypomanic/ crying freaking out…my mantra for ME I don’t make life altering decisions unless I’m in a really long term stable place…..I feel the place out too,if it feels uncomfortable…I know..hippy like.
But you’ve got lots more long term stability & no 2 ppl are the same.
I wish you the best,it’s a rough place ( no pun intended) to be in.
But I trust in your intellect & so forth to make a well informed decision.
Ciao.
Truth,
You are a neanderthal. We don’t have time for your rhetoric. Stay off the board.
Regarding your post, I feel my meds help me tremendously. Especially Luvox for OCD which causes anxiety. I have also found a sleep disorder doctor who has also helped me beyond my expectations. Changing me from Ambien to the more expensive brand Lunesta has been a godsend (If you can afford it that is). He has given me tools to help me sleep which in turn helps the meds to work properly. Without a good night’s rest, psych meds have a harder time doing their job. I must say the reason I started to see a sleep disorder doctor is because of the anxiety I had at night before bed which was not responding to regular anxiety medication. (the Luvox does help a bit with nighttime anxiety).I would lie awake until the early hours of the morning and then be late for work or call in sick. I tried xanax, and multiple other drugs until this doctor put me on a sleep diet. Now my meds are working perfectly, Along with the meds and the sleep, I am able to handle the stress you are talking about.
Being someone who’s been on meds forever bad cocktails and good ones. I thank you for your opinion and wonder can you recommend anything for bipolar treatment resistant depression. My chemicals shifted in my 30’s and nothing seems to be working. We’ve even added abilify low dose. I’m at a loss and need some relief arty this point. Thank you again for all your hard work.
As the research done by people like Moncrieff, Healy, Breggin, Gotsczhe, Kirsh piles up several feet high, we see clearly that psychiatric “drugs” ( they are not medicines) cause irreparable and extensive harm to the people unfortunate enough to fall into the clutches of clueless, dangerous psychiatrists, or confused GP’s. The research shows they worsen the outcomes for almost every mental health condition and increase the likelihood people will be permanently disabled or will die early. Gobble down that antidepressant and become manic or suicidal or suddenly labelled as bipolar. Increase the chance of more devastating depression or more episodes of depression, now chronic. Chow down on that neuroleptic. Shrink your brain, increase your risk of dopamine super sensitivity and more psychosis! Add agitation, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and emotional numbness. Throw in some diabetes and metabolic syndrome or male breast enlargement. Nibble on that Ritalin and increase your chance of becomIng bipolar, medicated for life. Eat that benzo or sleeping pill; wow addiction and insomnia.
Withdrawal syndrome that drives people to suicide? Side effects including suicidal and homicidal thoughts? Eat that lithium and increase your risk of relapse and more episodes when you stop? Who is made aware you are better off never exposed to lithium? Oh, and that “tweaking” of multiple “cocktails” of toxic brew NEVER tested in any trials bathing and carpet bombing brains to “create” imbalances.
So, they help the people with tough, numb brains fairly immune to poisoning with neurotoxins, or people learn to function, unaware or not tuned in to their declining physical health, loss of libido, increasing fatigue, loss of emotions?? The outcomes are uniformly bad but for a few lucky or resilient people.
I know you think you’re making an important public health announcement here. I have been there myself. Criticism of any kind of treatment is part of the scientific process. However there’s this trend with people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, myself included, not to accept their illness, to reject treatment. At the next level it becomes paranoia and there is no insight at all. Before long you have come off your medications quickly and will be in the middle of another episode. Adherence with medications is associated with faster improvement. So stick to your regime at first and discuss with your doctor carefully before coming off. Please be sensible people. I beg you only because it happened to me and made the illness go for longer.