AnnieS asked this question on 5/13/2000:
Hi I just wanted to let all of you know that I saw my new psychologist on Monday. I took with me, all of the input I'd recieved from all of you, a very detailed description of my life history, and a very open mind. In an hour and a half, he, like most of you, concluded that he'd bet on Bipolar II. He set me up an appointment with a psychiatrist to explore the possibility of starting meds. I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for your input and encouraging words. I'm still petrified of the meds, but much more open to the idea. Thanks to all of you. One more thing before I go; I read something quite interesting recently, and was wondering if any of you have ever done any research on the subject. I read that many people with Bipolar use cannabis to stabilize there moods, have any of you ever heard this before?
Desertphile gave this response on 5/14/2000:
Please note that I am not a doctor.
Congratulations on starting on your road to recovery. The first step is often the most difficult (trite statement and over used, but too often true to not add--- smile!).
Your concern about taking medication is very common. If you are a citizen of the USA, that concern is felt by most of your peers. Americans take less medication than Europeans for the same ills. It's a matter of "American hardiness" where one "should not need to take medication," plus the distrust Americans feel for medication in general.
It's a perfectly natural and reasonable anxiety.
But there are also so many testimonials about how medication has given a person new life that, in my opinion, such worries are unfounded.
You mentioned cannabis. I know very little about this, but what little I know tends to suggest that even if it does not help, it will not hurt. As with any drug or medication, be sensible in your behavior. Never smoke and drive! And you may wish to pay very close attention to how you feel on the first week or two of the medication for the Bi-Polar illness--- operating a car and the like.
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