Medication is now my way of life

So I have obviously been on bipolar medication for a few weeks now, but I had no idea how much other medication I was so used to taking, that has codeine in. One of the first things we are taught in group therapy regarding Bipolar medication, is we may no longer have any medication with this in. We are also no longer allowed energy drinks or anything with caffeine in it, at least for 6 months while our medication is being checked and altered till the doctors can fine tune the dosages.

And don’t get me started on a glass of wine – that’s apparently a no go too……..sigh. It’s like this disease has sucked the joy out of my life.

Anyway my partner and I are heading out to the states next week and I realized I needed to change all my ‘normal’ medication over to codeine free medication – boy did that cost half an arm and a leg, but I have come to the realization, that this will have to be my new way of life, and if I want to ensure I don’t have a relapse of sever depression dip, then I need to adjust my way of thinking and accept these new life changes.

So at 34 years old I have embraced the use of a pill box (never did I think I would be using one before the age of 50). I now spend one night a week filling up the compartments with the required pills for each AM and PM.

Now I am also not one to talk out of the bedroom; I’m normally to graceful to discuss these topics aloud in public, but in the fairness of honesty, and because this is all about my journey…….I decided to be upfront. So unfortunately one of the psychotic drugs I am on for the mental illness, does decrease one’s libido (and slows your metabolism too – that’s a whole other argument in itself because now I have to fight weight issues too).

Anyway when seeing my GP today (who is also a close personal friend), I bought up the fact that I feel bad for my husband that my libido has literally died (rest in peace), now luckily there is a pill he has prescribed, that I may take when I wanna get down on the low (but alias it means more pills).

So I do urge you, if you are battling with a mental illness, and are on medication, you will most likely lose your libido like I did. So here’s the thing, sex is sex and we shouldn’t feel ashamed to approach our GP or psychiatrist, and discuss these issues openly with them.

I mean we have lost caffeine, codeine, energy drinks and alcohol, surely we don’t need to lose our libido too. So be brave and talk about it; I also found it easy discussing this with my husband, so that he is aware and understands it’s not him (be upfront with your partners – they deserve to know what’s happening too).

This is me signing out for the night.

#talkaboutit #mentalillnessawareness #smashmentalillnessstigma #smis