Mental Illness & Prescription Drugs

For many years now I have taken prescription drugs for depression and then for bipolar, in addition to pot and alcohol. I come from a long line of alcoholics and addicts, some who have been diagnosed with mental illness and some who have not, but who have displayed symptoms. There have been periods of my life that I did not use any drugs at all, but experienced profound depression and anxiety. It seems that it has been the one constant most of my adult life.

Using weed and alcohol, along with precribed drugs has been counterproductive to say the least. Now that I have eliminated pot and alcohol, I am seeing that the drugs that I use for bipolar are more effective, however I still feel uncomfortable taking them. I feel like I'm "cheating".

The drugs I take are Lamictyl and Seroquel. I am currently working with my psychiatrist to reduce and eventually eliminate the Seroquel as I mainly use that to sleep, but I do not know if I will ever be able to stop the Lamictyl even though I would truly like to.

Is there anyone out there that has gone through something similar?

Thanks,
Jean

I know many people in recovery that are on one type of medication or another.
What I have seen and heard over and over again is the sans the alcohol and drugs...the medications get to work as presrcibed.

The big book of AA references taking medicines as described by doctors

I also would urge you to continue taking your meds as per your doctor.

However I would also suggest you do some research regarding Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and it's various offshoots.

Doing a 'net search on Mindfulness and depression will lead you to studies showing how remarkably effective Mindfulness is in preventing recurring depression once you have your initial depression under control.

Doing a search on Mindfulness and anxiety will show you evidence that talk therapy coupled with Mindfulness training is as, or more effective, than any given treatment with drugs.

An excellent book to start with is Jon Kabat-Zinn's "The Mindful Way Through Depression".

The Mindfulness programs started by Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts in the '70s has led to a variety of very effective techniques in a number of different disciplines. There is even a very effective Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention for those of us with our various addictions.

I would like to point out that I smoked dope for 40 years and got clean, in large part by coming here and getting the help of the wonderful folks on this forum. I have now been totally clean and sober for 9 months today and I credit, about equally, the support I get here and the Mindfulness training I have taken in this past year.

You've indicated in past posts an interest in meditation and that, in large parts, is what Mindfulness is about. It's also very secular so people with a problem with the higher power thing can usually feel more confortable.

My local Mindfulness Center has a Sunday night meeting that combines 12 step techniques with Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention so please understand that they can be complementary techniques.

I urge you to do your research, address it with you Doctor or therapist and do what's in your best interest. There's monsters back there and it takes courage and determination to walk back inside ourselves and deal with them.

Perhaps visit the website Mindful.org. Lots of good info there, too.

BTW Queenbluejay, you're doing a wonderful job both on yourself and with others on the forum. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Jinx. I visited the Mindful.org website and am looking forward to exploring it more. I even took time to do one of the meditations available on the site. I need to make the practice of meditation/mindfulness a priority, because I know in my heart that it can make a difference.

Also, I know that my pot and alcohol use had more to do with avoiding dealing with my "monsters" than with enhancing my good times. I've been in therapy before, but probably not long enough. It's so expensive and insurance only covers so much.

Oh well, I'm better off today than I was four months ago, so I'm moving in the right direction. Progress, not perfection, right?

Peace,

Jean