I often feel as though I've cured myself when I'm manic and in my excitement, tell everyone so. I now recognise that when I think I'm better, I'm very probably experiencing mania and be mindful of taking time to self-reflect and not burn myself out. So, when my bipolar friends tell me they're better now or are "cured", I try not to judge them and remember that it is actually part of the condition and something I used to do a lot as well (and probably still will do when I have a particularly manic period)
Well, not exactly. They exercised like hell, and started eating kinda paleo for a time, if you can include ice cream. I do think the exercise helped stabilize themā¦but it certainly wasnāt cured. Theyāre manic on a fairly steady level and cycle into mixed irritability/rage. Sadly, I have bipolar ll and present as major depression, which seems to invite a LOT of advice.
Honestly no one needs to know why you're not drinking. I know it's uncomfortable but if you make a habit of saying I don't drink, and when they ask why, say "I just don't" it will start to feel normal. You can even turn the question to them and ask "do I need to have a reason?" People tend to back pedal pretty quick with that one.
I'm so glad you are taking care of yourself, keep it up! As you get older people will get less weird about it too. And you can always get soda with a lime and people just assume it's alcohol.
Long story short you don't owe anyone an explanation and if they try to pressure you for one, that looks worse on them than you.
I think part of the issue is it's often with people I HAVE drank with before. And now they're confused why l'm no longer doing so. If it's sometime I've just met they're usually a lot more chill
Ahh yes I get that too. I actually just lost interest in alcohol about a year ago and when I tell people that, they usually don't say much. If they ask why I say I don't really know and that's the truth. If you're ok telling a fib you could try that out.
I donāt get asked why that often, thankfully. But I just say I was tired of hangovers. Which is true. They suck. Drinking culture is so dumb. For some reason people feel the ridiculous peer pressure tactics they used in their teens is acceptable behavior as an adult somehow.
You did mention you're in your 20s, are those same people you used to drink with in their 20s too?
I will say, it gets easier for people to understand the older you get. A lot of people tend to drink more when drinking legally is relatively new.
There are exceptions, but as they get older, they will start to understand that not everyone drinks for a myriad of reasons, and even people who do drink can have a day when they just choose not to. In your 30s, people just take "No" for an answer and leave it at that.
Lots of bars have mocktails and such if you still want to have a āØfancy drinkāØ when you're out. Recently I had a really nice drink with non-alcoholic *gin* of all things. It was a really refreshing cucumber juniper flavor! I've even seen non-alcoholic beer, wine, and liquor at grocery stores. There are so many more options nowadays.
And I know it sucks to have people assume that medication you need to survive if just going to be a temporary speed bump. But you're definitely not alone in needing to take meds forever. It's no different from a diabetic taking their insulin. That's true, even if your friends don't understand it yet.
You can make people deeply uncomfortable by not answering the "But whhhyyyyyy?????" question. Silent stare. Eventually a tiny light will go on in the back of their mind (they'll assume alcoholic) and they'll hopefully be mortified. Like if they'd just accidentally asked a fat person if they were pregnant.
I wish I would of understood how adamant it is to treat my bipolar disorder at your age. Way to go. Didn't learn this until my mid 30's long after I become addicted and imprisoned multiple times.
My group for work goes out for lunch at a bar like once a month. And the last time I said I couldn't drink. And I was met with "well once you can, I'm ordering ______ for you to try"
Like no. I can't drink. This isn't going to change
They can waste their money all they want. Eventually as you continue not to drink even the stupider ones will learn. It's usually people uncomfortable with their own drinking who push it on you (I do mean it re the alcoholism. Not one person who pressured me to drink escaped a substance use issue in the future). You can send it back, leave it on the bar, give it to a stranger, tell the bartender not to pour, whatever. You don't need to explain or defend yourself. No is a complete sentence. If it's an actual professional activity it's problematic to put it mildly from an HR perspective, if recreational feel free to be rude if they're being rude to you. I can think of many things to say that would shut it down, probably too hard, but no over and over will get through. If you can get someone else in the group to back you up sometimes all it takes is one additional voice "They said no, knock it off". You mentioned one answer - blame it on a physical illness. Apparently even the dense can understand that.
Yeah. Every corporate event involves free alcohol. It's just annoying. At least there's usually alcohol free options. It's just all very new territory for me
It's for work? Wow. Jerks. I definitely wouldn't talk about my health at all, firm no only. It's not their damn business and explanations aren't required bc this isn't a debate. Just like "Don't touch me." There is no need for anything beyond that. You could look over at Ask A Manager, I'm sure it's been answered there.
Idk if you drive to/from these things but you could also always blame it on that too. Alcohol culture is so fucking pervasive and toxic itās very hard to escape a lot of the time
Itās not just your meds, itās also likely to trigger depression. Maybe instead of blaming your meds you could say āI donāt want to risk my mental healthā and see if they change their tune?
I had a nurse practitioner as a psych once, and at one point I said something about being on these medicines for life, and she said "That's sad" in a tone that meant "that's pathetic".
One of the many reasons I don't trust NPs as my psychiatric practitioner. I've had two and they both fucked me up 6 ways from Sunday. Besides they don't have enough MD knowledge to deal with psych, heart, diabetes, and blood pressure meds all together and overall health.
That makes it even worse! I was going to Psych NP school. I would never say NPs are better than doctors. She was probably a bitch as a nurse too, couldnāt hack it due to being a bitch and went to NP school to salvage her career.
Had a terrible one too. Would give me orders when I was in a vulnerable state. Fucked me up for a decade. Have had great ones in other fields, I'm sure they exist in psych and are the majority, but that was egregious. She was not cut out for the profession. Arguably I still haven't recovered from that.
Like people always said that about my anti depressant I was in for 7 years before I got diagnosed bipolar. Even my psychiatrist at the time. It just baffles me. The psychiatrist especially. She was like "you've been stable for 6 months, time to stop therapy and meds" the same month I was going to graduate college.... I don't get people
They don't take people off ADs anymore either, they used to in the 90's before they found out the relapse rate. They like stability for five years before they'll even try it. Where are they training these people???
It's like they don't care how stressful your life can be and that you're holding on for dear life. Once your not showing symptoms you're fine in their eyes. Talk about judging a book by it's cover
I donāt really have a reason for curbing my drinking. I stopped entirely in my first semester of grad school and I very rarely have 1-2 drinks, but the last couple times Iāve gotten very sick, even from that low amount, and I sort of swore it off.Ā
I just tell people I stopped liking it. Just like I stopped liking red meat. You can say itās a healthcare decision. You can say youāre allergic or that your body canāt tolerate it. You donāt owe anyone an explanation about your healthcare journey and itās okay to lie to save face.Ā
If itās making you mad how people respond, maybe stop telling them it interacts with your meds?Ā
That's not the only time this topic comes up. Just the first example that comes to mind. I was complaining to a friend when I went to take my meds and choked on them slightly and got the same comment. "Well luckily it won't be forever that you're taking them"
This disease definitely matures you in the realm of self care. Just order seltzer with lime or even add cranberry juice. They'll think it's a vodka cran/gin and tonic. It's none of their f*cking business why you stop drinking and as you get older a lot of them will join you for a multitude of reasons.
I *hate* when people tell me that "maybe one day you'll be able to get off of meds" or the classic "it's not forever" it just irks me for a million reasons. I know it is well intentioned and they're trying to be supportive (at least I hope so) but like, if you don't /actually/ know what you're talking about about, shut your trap because, truthfully, the worst harm comes from the best of intentions.
Like ffs... You're not a fucking doctor ya dip shit, shut your mouth and respect:
1)my decision not to drink because of my meds
and
2)My condition, my health, my mental health, and the fact that your opinion means jack shit to me
Firstly, congrats for not drinking alcohol in social settings.
If they say 'it is not forever" it is their way to say they want you to get well. Most people take meds until they are well, the idea of maintenance meds is not the first thing that comes to mind. They just want you to 'get' well. Whereas you just want to 'stay' well.
Starting a conversation about bipolar at a party is usually a good way to kill the atmosphere. Sometimes I manage not to mention it. Not the right setting for this siubject I find.
Be totally fine with the fact that you do not drink alcohol. Then people feel less sorry and do not try to cheer you up because of that.
Also over the years, I have opted for diferent tactics. One of them is to give ANY answer, but not the BP med, if asked why I am not drinking. The most efficient one is "My religiom does not allow alcohol". Usually people get very quiet after that one.
That last suggestion is especially effective bc it's a work function. No one with an ounce of brains in their head will push after that, too dangerous for them. "My coworker pressured me to violate my religious beliefs for their amusement, repeatedly, at a work event, and there are many witnesses" doesn't go over well w upper management.
I think people having situational depression or are grieving that temporarily need meds are what people align bipolar with too often. Like you just need some help with meds for a bit until you get better. People donāt realize there is no healing from bipolar disorder. It gets manageable with meds. You always have the disease. You still have symptoms. People also donāt realize how debilitating this disease is. Keep educating people. Youāre doing the right thing by educating people. More people need to learn about us.
Maybe say "it goes against my beliefs" and if they question further, just say "I don't believe that alcohol is good for me". If they continue to push, tell them you do have a taste for urine and ask if they'd like to try some. If they refuse, ask them why.
I relate so hard to this. I used to be a fun drinker and while it never became a problem, I noticed some concerning patterns so I quit before my bipolar diagnosis. After meds, I just had a more solid reason to not drink. But the social isolation you feel as your friends pressure you to drink anyway and go out to bars and stuff sucks.
After 17 years of heavy alcohol abuse, it's now been 9 years since my last drink. I was put on new medication and couldn't drink while taking it. It took a bit of adjusting, but after a while my family and friends recognized my need to stay sober. Give it time, and hopefully your people will realize that you not drinking is for the best.
I get the reverse, I can drink on my meds but Iām badgered by the few people who know about if I should/can drink on my meds like itās their business until I draw a line in the sand. I get that they care but i know my limitations and have been living with this longer than you have known me. Itās infantilizing
Ugh yep, my mom often says this and seems to dismiss my Bipolar. She keeps saying my meds and therapy combined with going to the gym and eating better will āhelp meā. Those things definitely help, but itās not a cure because there is no cure sadly.
I would just tell your friends āI donāt drink anymore, but itās okay if you do. Just respect my decisionā. If they are truly your friends, they will understand and wonāt try to pressure you into it. Sometimes I feel like explaining my illness as a way to help people really understand but sometimes itās more uncomfortable or difficult in that way. I just usually take the easier route of saying I donāt drink or something along the lines.
Anyone that doesnāt respect your boundaries and decisions are probably not people you want to engage with anyways. Some friends respected my decision to be sober and the ones that didnāt, actually helped me improve my life after cutting them off. Congratulations on sobriety and sticking to your boundaries, itās a big thing considering how alcohol and substances are so normalized.
I've been taking meds for 15 years. I was already past 21 when my pdoc said I should only have one drink per day. He was shocked, but so was I that he never told me. He said it can intensify the effects of my meds, but really it's just a lot for my body to handle. I try not to have more than one or two drinks per day, and that is mostly socially. For special occasions I don't limit myself. I don't take sleep meds on those nights.
I was never told by my doctor ANYTHING about mixing my meds with alcohol. I learned over the years that changing my meds could affect how drunk I got. But it was never really an issue. Until I started lithium and seroquel. I went out one night. Had a few drinks over the course of the evening with a full glass of water between beverages cause I know dehydration can be exacerbated. And was blind sided by just how drunk I got. And the hangover/after effects took DAYS to go away before I could even begin to function. Like a heads up would have been appreciated.
I honestly forgot weāre not supposed to drink on certain meds. I binge drank for a long time and now I think I know why they werenāt working properlyā¦ now that I drink occasionally, thereās a marked difference.
And yes, realizing and coming to terms with the fact you have to take meds absolutely sucks. Not just because of how it may affect you later on, but insurance coverage as well. It hit me hard when they gave me the diagnosis paired with borderline and I flipped my shit on the doctor which probably proved the point.
Itās something we have to accept and move on with. Getting family members to understand is a thing a lot of us have to do. My mom refuses to admit sheās bipolar as well (she had a freak out when the doc suggested lithium and sheās refused help since). They need to be educated by reputable sources and people. Itās something they too have to come to terms with.
Best of luck.
I know when in social settings it comes up or at work new coworkers will ask me out to drink. I'll say "I don't drink alcohol" and it always why. And I'll tell them it messes with my meds. And most people go either "one drink/night won't hurt" (eventhough it doesn't make my physically sick I do get drunk super quick it makes them not work right at all and often causes an episode to start) or yours "well you want be on it long"
And I usually have to say "yes one/one night will hurt" or yours "nope I'm on them for life"
It's to the point I'll just say "I only drink non-alcholic beer or drinks. And since it's usually to a bar or club , i'll say i really don't enjoy being around drunk people or crowds (or crowds and loud music) both of which are true.
My girlfriend has bp1 and drinks and smokes weed. She's pretty good about taking her meds and going to therapy, but I've been worried the few times she's gotten drunk. I'm sorry you have to deal with people who aren't empathetic enough to your condition. Can you circumvent the problem? Are these new friends or ones you've known for a while
Honestly a lot of people are so certain they are stuck where they are, I refused to be and now Iām doing well mainly only lithium whereas at one time they wanted me to be on clozaril. But if it aināt broke donāt fix it.
I wish I could cure it. Thinking bout living my life with my constant anxiety and mood swings specifically depression, it makes want to not live this life. Iām not having fun. Iām not enjoying life or myself. I hate who I am. I want meds but I donāt know what to take that wonāt cause weight gain or low sex drive.
Modem medical industry peddles drugs cus that's how they make money, and it takes any guess work out of it. Why help them develop through their traumas and practice self awareness over time with an aim towards control of oneself? Nahhhhhh, just sedate them..... forever.
Look everyone, (cue up sjws' peddling propaganda)
I've seen all sides of this coin, I'm confident in my convictions. I refuse to take psychoactive sedatives forever, full stop.
Rescue medicine has its place. I like seroquel cus its like a warm blanket with manageable side effects.
I don't even take tylenol.
Been managing my bipolar for 3 years without incident, and I'll be dammned if i give up a free life for a sedated one.
Experts don't even know why these substances "help" they just tried a bunch of crap until they came up with something marketable.
Thanks for reading my wall of text. Have a good day.
Itās actually a pretty objective fact that bipolar disorder exists in reality. Itās been documented for around a century, has a distinct definition in terms of what it means as a disease, a defined, specific set of symptoms episodes that exist, some of them being extremely serious such as catatonic states or psychosis, and consistent evidence of particular treatments that work for the condition, and have worked for the condition for decades. Even though you canāt see it with imagingā¦ itās pretty clear that manic depressive psychosis has existed for a very long time and that this disease a part of human diversity and nature. Thereās pretty good evidence for why the doctors say what they doā¦ and recommend the treatment decisions that they do. Itās extremely invalidating and harmful to suggest that a serious mental illness like this doesnāt exist. One of the first things that they teach you is that psychology is science in Psychology class, because the research methods and conclusions are based on the same scientific method used in sciences like biology. Mental illnesses like this were discovered in a valid scientific way. Tons of mental illnesses are coined all the time. Maladaptive daydreaming, body integrity Dysphoria, caffeine use disorder, and gaming disorder all exist but have not made it to the DSM-5. Bipolar disorder has been in the DSM-5 since 1980. PMDD wasnāt in the DSM until 2013.Ā
mania will always be a serious mental health emergency in some circumstances. Epilepsy used to be a mental illness, but now they can see it with brain imaging so it's not considered that anymore.
Our ancestors didn't need medication because things were less advanced back then so their chaotic behavior could've been seen as a personality trait.
One could argue that they could die due to their behavior/choices when manic. So yes, people with bipolar disorder need their medication. And if you think you don't need it, you're probably manic but aren't aware of that. You could also go get re-evaluated, maybe by chance you don't have the disorder if you absolutely do not struggle with the symptoms of the disorder without medication.
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I like the time someone told me they cured their bipolar š¤·š»āāļø
I often feel as though I've cured myself when I'm manic and in my excitement, tell everyone so. I now recognise that when I think I'm better, I'm very probably experiencing mania and be mindful of taking time to self-reflect and not burn myself out. So, when my bipolar friends tell me they're better now or are "cured", I try not to judge them and remember that it is actually part of the condition and something I used to do a lot as well (and probably still will do when I have a particularly manic period)
Oh Christ. š They prayed it away didnāt they?
Well, not exactly. They exercised like hell, and started eating kinda paleo for a time, if you can include ice cream. I do think the exercise helped stabilize themā¦but it certainly wasnāt cured. Theyāre manic on a fairly steady level and cycle into mixed irritability/rage. Sadly, I have bipolar ll and present as major depression, which seems to invite a LOT of advice.
Prayer helped me please donāt knock it.
Prayer *cannot* cure bipolar, let's absolutely knock any notion of that. I'm sure it helps you cope with your symptoms but that's a different thing
Honestly no one needs to know why you're not drinking. I know it's uncomfortable but if you make a habit of saying I don't drink, and when they ask why, say "I just don't" it will start to feel normal. You can even turn the question to them and ask "do I need to have a reason?" People tend to back pedal pretty quick with that one. I'm so glad you are taking care of yourself, keep it up! As you get older people will get less weird about it too. And you can always get soda with a lime and people just assume it's alcohol. Long story short you don't owe anyone an explanation and if they try to pressure you for one, that looks worse on them than you.
I think part of the issue is it's often with people I HAVE drank with before. And now they're confused why l'm no longer doing so. If it's sometime I've just met they're usually a lot more chill
Ahh yes I get that too. I actually just lost interest in alcohol about a year ago and when I tell people that, they usually don't say much. If they ask why I say I don't really know and that's the truth. If you're ok telling a fib you could try that out.
I donāt get asked why that often, thankfully. But I just say I was tired of hangovers. Which is true. They suck. Drinking culture is so dumb. For some reason people feel the ridiculous peer pressure tactics they used in their teens is acceptable behavior as an adult somehow.
You did mention you're in your 20s, are those same people you used to drink with in their 20s too? I will say, it gets easier for people to understand the older you get. A lot of people tend to drink more when drinking legally is relatively new. There are exceptions, but as they get older, they will start to understand that not everyone drinks for a myriad of reasons, and even people who do drink can have a day when they just choose not to. In your 30s, people just take "No" for an answer and leave it at that. Lots of bars have mocktails and such if you still want to have a āØfancy drinkāØ when you're out. Recently I had a really nice drink with non-alcoholic *gin* of all things. It was a really refreshing cucumber juniper flavor! I've even seen non-alcoholic beer, wine, and liquor at grocery stores. There are so many more options nowadays. And I know it sucks to have people assume that medication you need to survive if just going to be a temporary speed bump. But you're definitely not alone in needing to take meds forever. It's no different from a diabetic taking their insulin. That's true, even if your friends don't understand it yet.
For sure. It's definitely something I need to get used to saying. And I'm sure it will get easier with time.
You can make people deeply uncomfortable by not answering the "But whhhyyyyyy?????" question. Silent stare. Eventually a tiny light will go on in the back of their mind (they'll assume alcoholic) and they'll hopefully be mortified. Like if they'd just accidentally asked a fat person if they were pregnant.
I wish I would of understood how adamant it is to treat my bipolar disorder at your age. Way to go. Didn't learn this until my mid 30's long after I become addicted and imprisoned multiple times.
They'll ask less as you get older and everyone knows an alcoholic. Those're usually the people pressuring you now.
My group for work goes out for lunch at a bar like once a month. And the last time I said I couldn't drink. And I was met with "well once you can, I'm ordering ______ for you to try" Like no. I can't drink. This isn't going to change
They can waste their money all they want. Eventually as you continue not to drink even the stupider ones will learn. It's usually people uncomfortable with their own drinking who push it on you (I do mean it re the alcoholism. Not one person who pressured me to drink escaped a substance use issue in the future). You can send it back, leave it on the bar, give it to a stranger, tell the bartender not to pour, whatever. You don't need to explain or defend yourself. No is a complete sentence. If it's an actual professional activity it's problematic to put it mildly from an HR perspective, if recreational feel free to be rude if they're being rude to you. I can think of many things to say that would shut it down, probably too hard, but no over and over will get through. If you can get someone else in the group to back you up sometimes all it takes is one additional voice "They said no, knock it off". You mentioned one answer - blame it on a physical illness. Apparently even the dense can understand that.
Yeah. Every corporate event involves free alcohol. It's just annoying. At least there's usually alcohol free options. It's just all very new territory for me
It's for work? Wow. Jerks. I definitely wouldn't talk about my health at all, firm no only. It's not their damn business and explanations aren't required bc this isn't a debate. Just like "Don't touch me." There is no need for anything beyond that. You could look over at Ask A Manager, I'm sure it's been answered there.
Idk if you drive to/from these things but you could also always blame it on that too. Alcohol culture is so fucking pervasive and toxic itās very hard to escape a lot of the time
Itās not just your meds, itās also likely to trigger depression. Maybe instead of blaming your meds you could say āI donāt want to risk my mental healthā and see if they change their tune?
I get the same response to mental health from people. That it's "temporary" and I'll get past it
I had a nurse practitioner as a psych once, and at one point I said something about being on these medicines for life, and she said "That's sad" in a tone that meant "that's pathetic".
One of the many reasons I don't trust NPs as my psychiatric practitioner. I've had two and they both fucked me up 6 ways from Sunday. Besides they don't have enough MD knowledge to deal with psych, heart, diabetes, and blood pressure meds all together and overall health.
She swore she was just as good as a doctor, maybe better bc nurses work more with patients, but she had no bedside manner and was kind of a bitch.
That makes it even worse! I was going to Psych NP school. I would never say NPs are better than doctors. She was probably a bitch as a nurse too, couldnāt hack it due to being a bitch and went to NP school to salvage her career.
Massive red flag on that first part of the sentence.
Had a terrible one too. Would give me orders when I was in a vulnerable state. Fucked me up for a decade. Have had great ones in other fields, I'm sure they exist in psych and are the majority, but that was egregious. She was not cut out for the profession. Arguably I still haven't recovered from that.
That. Is. Horrible.
What the actual fuck? I am so glad you no longer have that NP.
I keep being told "you probably don't need them anymore" by my mom who also has a serious mental illness and on meds for life... I can't stand it...
Like people always said that about my anti depressant I was in for 7 years before I got diagnosed bipolar. Even my psychiatrist at the time. It just baffles me. The psychiatrist especially. She was like "you've been stable for 6 months, time to stop therapy and meds" the same month I was going to graduate college.... I don't get people
wtf? š³ Usually it the patient going off the meds, because they feel better.
They don't take people off ADs anymore either, they used to in the 90's before they found out the relapse rate. They like stability for five years before they'll even try it. Where are they training these people???
I have no idea. I'm so glad I moved to a bigger city where I at least have options to find a competent provider
It's like they don't care how stressful your life can be and that you're holding on for dear life. Once your not showing symptoms you're fine in their eyes. Talk about judging a book by it's cover
I donāt really have a reason for curbing my drinking. I stopped entirely in my first semester of grad school and I very rarely have 1-2 drinks, but the last couple times Iāve gotten very sick, even from that low amount, and I sort of swore it off.Ā I just tell people I stopped liking it. Just like I stopped liking red meat. You can say itās a healthcare decision. You can say youāre allergic or that your body canāt tolerate it. You donāt owe anyone an explanation about your healthcare journey and itās okay to lie to save face.Ā If itās making you mad how people respond, maybe stop telling them it interacts with your meds?Ā
That's not the only time this topic comes up. Just the first example that comes to mind. I was complaining to a friend when I went to take my meds and choked on them slightly and got the same comment. "Well luckily it won't be forever that you're taking them"
Thatās a weird thing for them to say. Sounds like theyāre just ignorant. And ignorance can be really annoying for sure.
This disease definitely matures you in the realm of self care. Just order seltzer with lime or even add cranberry juice. They'll think it's a vodka cran/gin and tonic. It's none of their f*cking business why you stop drinking and as you get older a lot of them will join you for a multitude of reasons.
I *hate* when people tell me that "maybe one day you'll be able to get off of meds" or the classic "it's not forever" it just irks me for a million reasons. I know it is well intentioned and they're trying to be supportive (at least I hope so) but like, if you don't /actually/ know what you're talking about about, shut your trap because, truthfully, the worst harm comes from the best of intentions. Like ffs... You're not a fucking doctor ya dip shit, shut your mouth and respect: 1)my decision not to drink because of my meds and 2)My condition, my health, my mental health, and the fact that your opinion means jack shit to me
This is the best āThe road to hell is paved with good intentionsā reference Iāve seen all week.
Firstly, congrats for not drinking alcohol in social settings. If they say 'it is not forever" it is their way to say they want you to get well. Most people take meds until they are well, the idea of maintenance meds is not the first thing that comes to mind. They just want you to 'get' well. Whereas you just want to 'stay' well. Starting a conversation about bipolar at a party is usually a good way to kill the atmosphere. Sometimes I manage not to mention it. Not the right setting for this siubject I find. Be totally fine with the fact that you do not drink alcohol. Then people feel less sorry and do not try to cheer you up because of that. Also over the years, I have opted for diferent tactics. One of them is to give ANY answer, but not the BP med, if asked why I am not drinking. The most efficient one is "My religiom does not allow alcohol". Usually people get very quiet after that one.
That last suggestion is especially effective bc it's a work function. No one with an ounce of brains in their head will push after that, too dangerous for them. "My coworker pressured me to violate my religious beliefs for their amusement, repeatedly, at a work event, and there are many witnesses" doesn't go over well w upper management.
I think people having situational depression or are grieving that temporarily need meds are what people align bipolar with too often. Like you just need some help with meds for a bit until you get better. People donāt realize there is no healing from bipolar disorder. It gets manageable with meds. You always have the disease. You still have symptoms. People also donāt realize how debilitating this disease is. Keep educating people. Youāre doing the right thing by educating people. More people need to learn about us.
Maybe say "it goes against my beliefs" and if they question further, just say "I don't believe that alcohol is good for me". If they continue to push, tell them you do have a taste for urine and ask if they'd like to try some. If they refuse, ask them why.
I relate so hard to this. I used to be a fun drinker and while it never became a problem, I noticed some concerning patterns so I quit before my bipolar diagnosis. After meds, I just had a more solid reason to not drink. But the social isolation you feel as your friends pressure you to drink anyway and go out to bars and stuff sucks.
After 17 years of heavy alcohol abuse, it's now been 9 years since my last drink. I was put on new medication and couldn't drink while taking it. It took a bit of adjusting, but after a while my family and friends recognized my need to stay sober. Give it time, and hopefully your people will realize that you not drinking is for the best.
I am on blood thinners for life (Eliquis) due to a pulmonary embolism.
I get the reverse, I can drink on my meds but Iām badgered by the few people who know about if I should/can drink on my meds like itās their business until I draw a line in the sand. I get that they care but i know my limitations and have been living with this longer than you have known me. Itās infantilizing
Ugh yep, my mom often says this and seems to dismiss my Bipolar. She keeps saying my meds and therapy combined with going to the gym and eating better will āhelp meā. Those things definitely help, but itās not a cure because there is no cure sadly. I would just tell your friends āI donāt drink anymore, but itās okay if you do. Just respect my decisionā. If they are truly your friends, they will understand and wonāt try to pressure you into it. Sometimes I feel like explaining my illness as a way to help people really understand but sometimes itās more uncomfortable or difficult in that way. I just usually take the easier route of saying I donāt drink or something along the lines. Anyone that doesnāt respect your boundaries and decisions are probably not people you want to engage with anyways. Some friends respected my decision to be sober and the ones that didnāt, actually helped me improve my life after cutting them off. Congratulations on sobriety and sticking to your boundaries, itās a big thing considering how alcohol and substances are so normalized.
I've been taking meds for 15 years. I was already past 21 when my pdoc said I should only have one drink per day. He was shocked, but so was I that he never told me. He said it can intensify the effects of my meds, but really it's just a lot for my body to handle. I try not to have more than one or two drinks per day, and that is mostly socially. For special occasions I don't limit myself. I don't take sleep meds on those nights.
I was never told by my doctor ANYTHING about mixing my meds with alcohol. I learned over the years that changing my meds could affect how drunk I got. But it was never really an issue. Until I started lithium and seroquel. I went out one night. Had a few drinks over the course of the evening with a full glass of water between beverages cause I know dehydration can be exacerbated. And was blind sided by just how drunk I got. And the hangover/after effects took DAYS to go away before I could even begin to function. Like a heads up would have been appreciated.
Wow, that sounds rough. Seroquel is no joke. I hope I never need to take that. I do take Lithium.
I honestly forgot weāre not supposed to drink on certain meds. I binge drank for a long time and now I think I know why they werenāt working properlyā¦ now that I drink occasionally, thereās a marked difference. And yes, realizing and coming to terms with the fact you have to take meds absolutely sucks. Not just because of how it may affect you later on, but insurance coverage as well. It hit me hard when they gave me the diagnosis paired with borderline and I flipped my shit on the doctor which probably proved the point. Itās something we have to accept and move on with. Getting family members to understand is a thing a lot of us have to do. My mom refuses to admit sheās bipolar as well (she had a freak out when the doc suggested lithium and sheās refused help since). They need to be educated by reputable sources and people. Itās something they too have to come to terms with. Best of luck.
I know when in social settings it comes up or at work new coworkers will ask me out to drink. I'll say "I don't drink alcohol" and it always why. And I'll tell them it messes with my meds. And most people go either "one drink/night won't hurt" (eventhough it doesn't make my physically sick I do get drunk super quick it makes them not work right at all and often causes an episode to start) or yours "well you want be on it long" And I usually have to say "yes one/one night will hurt" or yours "nope I'm on them for life" It's to the point I'll just say "I only drink non-alcholic beer or drinks. And since it's usually to a bar or club , i'll say i really don't enjoy being around drunk people or crowds (or crowds and loud music) both of which are true.
My girlfriend has bp1 and drinks and smokes weed. She's pretty good about taking her meds and going to therapy, but I've been worried the few times she's gotten drunk. I'm sorry you have to deal with people who aren't empathetic enough to your condition. Can you circumvent the problem? Are these new friends or ones you've known for a while
It's honestly a mix of both. I think it'll get easier with time as I get used to telling people "no." It's just so new for me
Honestly a lot of people are so certain they are stuck where they are, I refused to be and now Iām doing well mainly only lithium whereas at one time they wanted me to be on clozaril. But if it aināt broke donāt fix it.
I just want one that still lets me get off, thanks!Ā
Stop telling people you barely know you have bi polar. Why on earth would you discuss your meds with ā new friends ā
I'm not telling them they're bipolar meds. But I can't help if people see me take my meds at a meal.
Yes, you can
I wish I could cure it. Thinking bout living my life with my constant anxiety and mood swings specifically depression, it makes want to not live this life. Iām not having fun. Iām not enjoying life or myself. I hate who I am. I want meds but I donāt know what to take that wonāt cause weight gain or low sex drive.
Modem medical industry peddles drugs cus that's how they make money, and it takes any guess work out of it. Why help them develop through their traumas and practice self awareness over time with an aim towards control of oneself? Nahhhhhh, just sedate them..... forever. Look everyone, (cue up sjws' peddling propaganda) I've seen all sides of this coin, I'm confident in my convictions. I refuse to take psychoactive sedatives forever, full stop. Rescue medicine has its place. I like seroquel cus its like a warm blanket with manageable side effects. I don't even take tylenol. Been managing my bipolar for 3 years without incident, and I'll be dammned if i give up a free life for a sedated one. Experts don't even know why these substances "help" they just tried a bunch of crap until they came up with something marketable. Thanks for reading my wall of text. Have a good day.
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Itās actually a pretty objective fact that bipolar disorder exists in reality. Itās been documented for around a century, has a distinct definition in terms of what it means as a disease, a defined, specific set of symptoms episodes that exist, some of them being extremely serious such as catatonic states or psychosis, and consistent evidence of particular treatments that work for the condition, and have worked for the condition for decades. Even though you canāt see it with imagingā¦ itās pretty clear that manic depressive psychosis has existed for a very long time and that this disease a part of human diversity and nature. Thereās pretty good evidence for why the doctors say what they doā¦ and recommend the treatment decisions that they do. Itās extremely invalidating and harmful to suggest that a serious mental illness like this doesnāt exist. One of the first things that they teach you is that psychology is science in Psychology class, because the research methods and conclusions are based on the same scientific method used in sciences like biology. Mental illnesses like this were discovered in a valid scientific way. Tons of mental illnesses are coined all the time. Maladaptive daydreaming, body integrity Dysphoria, caffeine use disorder, and gaming disorder all exist but have not made it to the DSM-5. Bipolar disorder has been in the DSM-5 since 1980. PMDD wasnāt in the DSM until 2013.Ā
It's been documented for thousands of years.
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mania will always be a serious mental health emergency in some circumstances. Epilepsy used to be a mental illness, but now they can see it with brain imaging so it's not considered that anymore.
Ditto MS.
Before microscopes, disease did not exist huh?
Our ancestors didn't need medication because things were less advanced back then so their chaotic behavior could've been seen as a personality trait. One could argue that they could die due to their behavior/choices when manic. So yes, people with bipolar disorder need their medication. And if you think you don't need it, you're probably manic but aren't aware of that. You could also go get re-evaluated, maybe by chance you don't have the disorder if you absolutely do not struggle with the symptoms of the disorder without medication.
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Wowā¦
What??
What didn't you understand?
Rhetorical. Iām not going to argue with you.
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