RealMental

Ami asks: I have been bipolar since the mid 80’s, probably before that.  At the age of 46, I started taking medication for it.  Before meds, I guess you could call it ‘what a long, strange trip it’s been’. 

My question is this:  What about cognitive dysfunction?  Why doesn’t the side effect sheet say point blank “If you take this medication, your memory will go south to retire”?  “You will not be able to think straight” is another one I can think of.  If I had known my memory and mind would have fallen apart like it has, I sure would have done things differently. 

The only mood stabilizer I’ve ever been able to tolerate is Lamictal.  Now my liver is acting up, and I have to go back soon for more blood-work, nothing conclusive yet.  I took antidepressants for four years now. 

My quality of life is suffering, along with everything
else since I started meds. 

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Question from Erika: How do therapists/shrinks tell if a patient is lying to them, and how do they deal with it, in terms of getting the patient the immediate care they need, as well as in terms of fostering the honesty necessary to the patient’s real long term healing?
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