Tapered off Abilify with my doc's help - rarely have I felt so bipolar as I have this month. We're strong, you guys, and we can keep battling this thing together.
Posted Oct 24, 2020, 3:03 PM UTC
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Keep up the great work! Take it day by day. I know it's not easy, but try not to be too hard on yourself when you hit those down days. ❤️
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Thank you so much! I'm better at self-soothing than I used to be on those bad days - fuzzy socks, tea, and a blanket all day long. So I guess that's progress:)
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Oooh fuzzy socks is a great idea! I'm having one of those "I refuse to do anything today" days. I may or may not have just ordered Cold Stone ice cream from Uber Eats 😋🤣.
I will say, as long as your recognize your progress...then it's progress indeed. Be proud of yourself...I'm proud of you too ❤️
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Are you in any other mood stabilizers in the meantime, to help calm the storm?
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Not currently, no. I am taking some other prescribed medication for my anxiety, as well as a daily magnesium and D3 supplement, and a daily 30-min cardio workout. Even if I feel awful, I manage that somehow, it's just always been my thing.
Mindfulness and journaling help too, so I guess I have finally adopted some coping techniques. Better late than never, although it did take me most of my 33 years! :)
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Not a doctor, but have you tried any other mood stabilizers? Lamictal has very few side effects for most people. And not sure what you’re taking for anxiety, but be sure to stay clear of antidepressants like SSRIs/SNRIs unless you’re also taking a mood stabilizer, since they can have really bad destabilizing effects in people with bipolar.
Best healing wishes to you :)
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Lamictal actually gave me really bad insomnia and anxiety - it was a letdown for me, as I was really hoping it would be the one for me. Thank you for your thoughts!
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Abilify wasn't right for me, so I decided to taper off of it, very slowly, with my doctor's help and knowledge. Yesterday was scarily low, while today I'm a bit hypomanic. I don't usually cycle as quickly as I have this month - it's been really tough.
I am incredibly grateful for my roommate/best friend for giving me as many hugs and support and I need while I've been going through my Abilify withdrawal.
This illness is hard, guys, but it makes us warriors. Few people are faced with the rollercoaster we are made to ride. I feel hopeful about my own battle today, but I know that tomorrow may be very different.
If you don’t mind me asking, what was your experience on abilify that made you want to taper off?
I’m so happy to hear you have a great support system!
I don't mind at all, it's a complex story, though. Atypical antipsychotics have never sat well with me over these last 10 years of trying out different variants - I began to develop tardive dyskinesia from one that I had been taking long-term, only to develop an adverse reaction from another that I had previously taken for years without issue.
Also, when I agreed to be put on Abilify, it was a desperate choice. I refused to acknowledge the abusive living situation that I was in at the time, or that my doctor had already made some questionable choices with my treatment in the past. I have since found another doctor, and have been working on developing coping mechanisms to deal with my trauma from my past.
Atypical antipschotics have a way of trapping myself in my own head. My affect is blunted, but my mind races. It reminds me of descriptions I've read of autoimmune disorders, where bodily movement is limited, but the mind retains its ability to think. The effect is frightening to say the least.
The last few years have been about me taking back the reins of my treatment, and of my life. It's been difficult, but I think I'm making progress! Thank you for your thoughts:)