How many people recover from bipolar? Do victims have to take drugs all their lives?

There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but it is highly treatable in most cases. As far as I know, people do have to take medicine for it their whole life. I have a parent and a brother with it. My brother holds down a full time job with good pay too. If you are asking if people could maintain a fairly normal life with this disorder, then my answer is yes, in a lot of cases. BUT, the person who does the best, realizes that their medication is what will allow them to be and do the best they can. People with bipolar disorder who are on meds do struggle a little more in their life, but if you ask them, they will more than likely tell you that the meds have made their life a lot easier.

As a practicing bipolar, I can confirm that there is no cure for manic depression, that it is a very dangerous disease (1 out of 9 will attempt or commit suicide) and that I must take the meds for the rest of my life. There's only one problem: even with the meds you may suffer depression from time to time, and many bipolars stop taking their meds because they miss that euphoric feeling they get in the manic state. When I was manic I buzzed around like a freed balloon and got a LOT of work done. I felt wonderful! But I also got in a lot of trouble. So now I just feel half depressed all the time. Without the meds, I feel I would be dead by now. PTL for the meds!

I also have bi polar. without my lithium, life has no meaning for me. I was diagnosed back in 93, and can feel a real difference without my meds ( which I cannot afford at this time ) e1 around me can tell when I'm on it and when I'm not. It's been years now, and without the stabilizers, I'm a total wreck. counseling helps too, but I will need meds for the rest of my life, to keep it under control.

Is Bi-Polar like a depression type of mind?
I've heard a lot about this disease, but never really found out what it's about.

Ron,

Bipolar is a type of "mental illness" or chemical inbalance that causes intense mood swings. A person with Bipolar disorder can be very happy, energetic, even manic for a certain period of time. Then that person can become very depressed, even suicidal. It can be controlled pretty well with medications.

bipolar info

I also have bipolar and add its hard for me to know which one of mine is acting up at times. Its a hard disorder to live with. I have had alot of problems with mine in the past years.

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Originally posted by SeattleRon:
Is Bi-Polar like a depression type of mind?
I've heard a lot about this disease, but never really found out what it's about.

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Bipolar and depression can be linked to the chemical misbalance of serotonin. This is linked to many of the emotional as well as physical aspects of disorders. Depression and bipolar are similar in the down stages, but where there differ is when the bipolar moves to the other "pole" as in the name "bipolar" suggests there are two poles, the depressive is the same, depending on the person and severity as a person with depression, but the manic stage is the opposite pole, where a person with bipolar disorder goes into a state of ecstacy...a very very happy time in other words. So in answer to that, depression and bipolar can be linked, but bipolar is more of a swing than depression.

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Originally posted by babthrower:
How many people recover from bipolar? Do victims have to take drugs all their lives?

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I believe it is impossible to recover entirely, although a big part of the "recovery" is learning to live with the difficulties you are given and how to overcome them in times. Depending on the severity, you may not need medications your whole life when others with a more sever case of bipolar would. My sister is no longer taking meds, although she has worked about 10 years to not have to do so, she found that a large part of the things causing her problems were other than the chemical misbalance in her brain and getting rid of those, she can more easily handle her biplar disorder and does not need to rely on medications. It depends on the individual person and the individual support they have thoughout the process.

I know this is an old question, but since it's been brought back to life, I'd like to share a website I had found on this. It's very informative and could answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.abessay.com/samples/BIPOLAR%20DISORDER.htm

I would like to point out that there are two types of Bipolar disorder. Getting them mixed up could be devistating.

Bipolar I disorder is a condition in which individuals have had at least one full manic or mixed mood episode, and may or may not suffer from episodes of depression.

Bipolar II disorder in which individuals have at least one depressive episode and at least one hypo manic episode, but never experience a full manic or mixed mood episode. Bipolar II can go unrecognized because the hypo manic symptoms may not appear that unusual.

The second one can be dangerous because it can go undectected. But it's just as real as the first one.

Thanks puppy Great website with lots of good information.

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Originally posted by ladykc1997:
I also have bi polar. without my lithium, life has no meaning for me. I was diagnosed back in 93, and can feel a real difference without my meds ( which I cannot afford at this time ) e1 around me can tell when I'm on it and when I'm not. It's been years now, and without the stabilizers, I'm a total wreck. counseling helps too, but I will need meds for the rest of my life, to keep it under control.

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Please check in your area for an organization that helps people to get their medication when not able to afford it...Soome where theres one, and many times its the pharmaceutical company itself..

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Originally posted by ladykc1997:
I also have bi polar. without my lithium, life has no meaning for me. I was diagnosed back in 93, and can feel a real difference without my meds ( which I cannot afford at this time ) e1 around me can tell when I'm on it and when I'm not. It's been years now, and without the stabilizers, I'm a total wreck. counseling helps too, but I will need meds for the rest of my life, to keep it under control.

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Well, from your post, I'm going to assume that you are still in counceling. If not, please make sure that you go back.
Assuming that you are, does your councelor know that you cannot afford your medications? Most mental health centers have programs that help with medication. They will pay for some or all of your meds, as long as you continue to seek counceling.

Here's a website with all the mental help professionals in Alabama. Contact the one closest to you and if they can't help you, ask them who can. Be persistent, they are out there, you just have to find them. You NEED to stay on your meds.

http://ypng.areaconnect.com/_1_2D7HTOJ038Y635H__areac.main/y
pv3/list.htm?qb=8322BF1087E&xmlurl=&kcfg=ypus&ypinsp=1&resolve=geocode&
searchtype
=all&fromform=qsearch&qb=8322BF1087E&qh=Counselors+Marriage+
Family+Child+%26+Individual+&wqhqn=1&qhqn=Marriage+%26+Family+Counselors&qs=al&qk=15&top=internal

[This message was edited by Karrow on 02-15-04 at 03:46 PM.]

Thank you, Karrow. I HATE deforming posts!