ISSUE #11: Saturday June 25, 2011 -- GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK

MANIA & MEDS

I would emphasize that over the long term, meds need to be regarded as a complement to your recovery strategies, not the other way around.

A very interesting article was passed onto me about the use of medication for bipolar disorder. The quote is from John McManamy on a website called HealthCentral: BipolarConnect.com. He goes on to say that "For years .... I have strongly advocated that our meds are only one part of the wellness equation, and often a very small part of that equation."

He says that "meds overkill" is a "logical and compassionate response" when a person is in a full-blown manic episode but that once things stabilize the "meds take on the new role of relapse-prevention".

We want our lives back, and the general idea is that as we become more adept in managing our illness (such as being able to spot triggers) the less we need to rely on meds.

To read the rest of this thought-provoking article go to
http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/15/138742/treating-mania

Any comments about this idea and/or the article itself?
Caer Weber