{"id":12987,"date":"2020-01-02T11:34:43","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T19:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/?p=12987"},"modified":"2020-01-02T11:35:15","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T19:35:15","slug":"%f0%9f%95%ba%f0%9f%92%8a-my-bipolar-disorder-medication-dilemma-%f0%9f%92%8a%f0%9f%95%ba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/%f0%9f%95%ba%f0%9f%92%8a-my-bipolar-disorder-medication-dilemma-%f0%9f%92%8a%f0%9f%95%ba\/","title":{"rendered":"&#x1f57a;&#x1f48a; My Bipolar Disorder Medication Dilemma! &#x1f48a;&#x1f57a;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"f4v3l-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"f4v3l-0-0\"><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"f4v3l-0-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"f4v3l-0-0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12989 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"7jgao-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"7jgao-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7jgao-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"8vinc-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8vinc-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8vinc-0-0\">I don&#8217;t like <\/span><span class=\"_5zk7\" spellcheck=\"false\" data-offset-key=\"8vinc-1-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8vinc-1-0\">#bipolar<\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"8vinc-2-0\"> medications that have side effects. I like meds that work and don&#8217;t make me MORE ill physically or mentally. Unfortunately, this is not reality for most of us with bipolar. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"8qgp5-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8qgp5-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8qgp5-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"7kg31-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"7kg31-0-0\"><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"7kg31-0-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"7kg31-0-0\">&#x1f984;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"7kg31-1-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"7kg31-1-0\">&#x1f984;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"7kg31-2-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"7kg31-2-0\">&#x1f984;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"7kg31-3-0\"> Yes, some people can take meds without side effects. I have met these unicorns! <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"9rvet-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"9rvet-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"9rvet-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-0-0\"><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-0-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-0-0\">&#x1f308;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-1-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-1-0\">&#x1f308;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"_3gl1 _5zz4\" data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-2-0\"><span class=\"_ncl\"><span data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-2-0\">&#x1f308;<\/span><\/span><\/span><span data-offset-key=\"ep0p2-3-0\"> If only I were one of them! <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"534gu-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"534gu-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"534gu-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"dd3a9-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dd3a9-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"dd3a9-0-0\">The majority of us have side effects and this is the main reason we stop meds. I teach a system based on two premises: <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"41em4-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"41em4-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"41em4-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"_1bv1\" data-offset-key=\"dbjpn-0-0\">\n<li class=\"_2cuy _509s _3kp_ _3kq0 _3kq1 _3kq6\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"dbjpn-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"dbjpn-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"dbjpn-0-0\">We can control the majority of our symptoms using the ideas in my books, especially The Health Cards and then use meds only for the symptoms we can&#8217;t control on our own. This reduces the need for entire categories of medications and lets us use smaller doses. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"_2cuy _509s _3kp_ _3kq1 _3kq6\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"8h0dt-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8h0dt-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8h0dt-0-0\">We still get side effects from meds and must learn to accept certain side effects if we want stability. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"an6l2-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"an6l2-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"an6l2-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"2h3ip-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"2h3ip-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"2h3ip-0-0\">I appreciate my medications at at the same time can never reconcile the way the meds help me and yet make me fat and hungry. I hate this so much. But I like stability more. So it is up to me to figure out how to take less meds and how to deal with my weight in the future. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"e306o-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"e306o-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"e306o-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"32ucc-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"32ucc-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"32ucc-0-0\">This is not a fair trade off, but it&#8217;s the only one I have. The other alternative is being much thinner, but so sick I can&#8217;t function at all. <\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"32ucc-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\">Life is not fair. Life is life. People with insulin pumps aren&#8217;t exactly pleased with having something attached to their body. <\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"atgfb-0-0\">People in wheel chairs would rather walk. I would rather be well and not need meds. Wishful thinking! <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"5ak9f-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"5ak9f-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"5ak9f-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"7v9eo-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"7v9eo-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"7v9eo-0-0\">I have learned to take the minimum meds possible. It works for me. I have one med I can take every day and one that has such intense side effects that I can only use it as needed. This works for me. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"7v9eo-0-0\"><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"7v9eo-0-0\">\n<div id=\"attachment_12988\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12988\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12988\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-lithium-2017-1-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-lithium-2017-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-lithium-2017-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-lithium-2017-1-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/julie-lithium-2017-1-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-12988\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Julie A. Fast holding a rock of lithium!<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"8br9p-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"8br9p-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"8br9p-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"ap0r4-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ap0r4-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ap0r4-0-0\">I have bipolar and a psychotic disorder. I live with it or I die by it. I choose life. I choose appropriate meds that have side effects I don&#8217;t like. <\/span><\/div>\n<div data-offset-key=\"ap0r4-0-0\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"ec4du-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"ec4du-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"ec4du-0-0\">Not fair! But smart. <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"fjm1o-0-0\">\n<div class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"fjm1o-0-0\"><span data-offset-key=\"fjm1o-0-0\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"_2cuy _3dgx\" data-block=\"true\" data-editor=\"49o2h\" data-offset-key=\"97kfr-0-0\">\n<h1 class=\"_1mf _1mj\" data-offset-key=\"97kfr-0-0\"><em><strong><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Julie<\/span> <\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-12989 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Julie-meds-lithium-2019.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> I don&#8217;t like #bipolar medications that have side effects. I like meds that work and don&#8217;t make me MORE ill physically or mentally. Unfortunately, this is not reality for most of us with bipolar. &#x1f984;&#x1f984;&#x1f984; Yes, some people can take meds without side effects. I have met these unicorns! &#x1f308;&#x1f308;&#x1f308; If only I were one of them! The majority of us have side effects and this is the main reason we stop meds. I teach a system based on two premises: We can control the majority of our symptoms using the ideas in my books, especially The Health Cards and then use meds only for the symptoms we can&#8217;t control on our own. This reduces the need for entire categories of medications and lets us use smaller doses. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/%f0%9f%95%ba%f0%9f%92%8a-my-bipolar-disorder-medication-dilemma-%f0%9f%92%8a%f0%9f%95%ba\/\">[ Read More ]<\/a><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12989,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12987"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12987"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12991,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12987\/revisions\/12991"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bipolarhappens.com\/bhblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}