What happens if bipolar disorder goes untreated for a long time and the person self medicates with marijuana?

Not taking meds, doing drugs, is there a point when it is to late or it can get worse or can turn into something else?

I know what you mean ligeia, but when I take meds it makes me worse and im just use to not taking meds. I feel normal when im not on meds and not myself on them. I just feel like im loosing my mind, everyday its worse. I dont even understand my own life anymore or things around it. I feel like im watching myself die.

I don't take medication or self-medicate. Marijuana doesn't affect me, so I don't smoke it-- but I don't think it can hurt anything other than kill brain cells. I drink sometimes, which also kills brain cells.

Maybe you should ask yourself why you're so scared of not medicating. Why not work toward being yourself and enjoying your life-- with or without medication. I think being off your medication will only hurt you if you believe it will hurt you. I think marijuana will only become a drug if you treat it like one. Do you know what I mean? Just whatever you do, don't take hallucinogenics as strong as MUSHROOMS or ACID. They will exacerbate your mood problems exponentially.

Well good luck.

Bipolar disorder tends to get more and more mixed, with depressive episode entering into the manic ones. So visions and stuff will get more and more eerie and creepy and far out. I don't think there is a point where it is too late, but you could do some really destructive things in the process by not taking good care of yourself now and doing what it is you know you need to do. The marijuana is NOT going to work in comparison to the correct medication in combo with talk therapy.

My ex fiance was bipolar and he self-medicated with alcohol and other illegal drugs. He got really erratic at the end of our relationship. It was horrible to watch. I would have stuck by him through almost anything, but he refused to get treatment and he started threatening me, so I had to leave. Anyone who is bipolar should not try to self medicate - they need professional help and professional meds. I don't think it's ever too late to get help from a medical standpoint, but waiting just ruins other things like relationships, and jobs, etc.

Some people with bipolar disorder claim that using marijuana helps with bipolar disorder. However, there haven't been any conclusive facts about this. It is no substitute for proper treatment and it is illegal.

Here's a link with some info on treatment and types. I would encourage you to speak with a professional though.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bi...

Bipolar is a progressive illness. That means that your brain slowly deteriorates. Lithium and some of the anticonvulsant mood stabilizers slow if not stop that progression. Marijuana, alcohol, pain pills, street drugs, etc do not.

It is never too late to get on meds. I didn't until much older than you. To be honest, I'd give anything to have done so much earlier.

The hallucinogens are going to mess with your head. Psychosis can be part of bipolar, and with those drugs, you are playing with fire.

My husband has een doing this since I met him 8 years ago. He recently went on Zoloft......thank god! The marijuana never helps it just gets rid of the symtoms until he comes down and then he's pissy and weird again. I don't know if it gets worse but, it definatly will never get better without the correct drugs.

self medicating with marijuana is definitely not the way to go
yes things can get out of hand
and you can get into some serious trouble
there are some natural treatments
with no side effects and good for your body
check www.real-depression-help.com
or alternative mental health on google
good luck

My husband has the same issue that you have, sort of.
He has ocd, bi-polar mania and tourettes.
He has also gone the route of marijuana because he says it helps mellow him out and makes his mind slow down enough to where he isn't freaking out and he can think one thought at a time. He can't smoke anymore because he has a job where they drug test randomly... He also can't take zoloft because of his job (which I hated when he took that because it made him zombie like... he would just sit there and stare at the walls and just have a blank expression about him.)
I know that things may seem bleak right now, but your best thing would be to have a good support system. You need someone (like a trusted loved one or a therapist) that isn't going to judge you and will help you get through your issues. It won't be an easy road, but you can do it.
If your bi-polar disorder is really bad, I suggest you go back to the meds... I can totally understand not wanting to take them because they can really affect you negatively. The government puts out all this medication that is deemed 'safe' for the public, when we find out in 5+ years that it causes cancer and death and all kinds of other issues...
Again, try talking with someone and see if there are legal natural alternatives to the natural, illegal drug.
Best of Luck.