Concerns about family, after what's happening to friend

[lithiumfear]

I saw my CPN today. She was angry that I stopped the Valproate against advice (even though both my GP & psychiatrist said I was to be weaned off it). I hated it, and refused to be so completely drugged up. I therefore didn't tell her that I'm not taking my Sertraline either - purely because I read that it has serious interactions with the lithium, and am nervous enough already.

She said I "risk losing everything" if I play around with my meds, and whilst playing games was fine in the past, I now have a family and the stakes are too high.

I then saw a friend. We met on the labour ward when we had out DC. We became really good friends, and other things in common, besides our DCs being born at the same time, and both being bipolar.

Shortly after her DC was born she went into a mother & baby unit, after suffering puerperal psychosis. I had severe post-natal anxiety (wouldn't leave the house in case the wheels fell off the pram/a car mounted the pavement/a swarm of bees attacked etc. I was just seen by CPN, and then was put on Lamictal, until I fell pregnant with DD2 (who was stillborn at full-term) 16 months later.

My friend went into hospital late 2011, and hasn't left since. She is not allowed to return to the family home, so will not be released until she agrees supported accommodation.

She has changed so much, I am so worried for her, and upset. My beautiful, vibrant friend has blank eyes, and is not the same person.

Another friend's husband is bipolar, and was taken into hospital for assessment. He was not sectioned as he is not deemed to be a risk to himself, or others. He is now homeless - as he is not allowed home, as he has small children. His wife is going ballistic, she wants her husband home, a loving father, who just happens to have a mental illness. If he was diabetic would the same thing happen?

I am now terrifed about being in the 'system'. I am scared of taking the drugs and it affecting my mind.

Let's face it, if these drugs worked, then my friend would not have spent the best part of 3 years in hospital surely?

This makes me so angry reading these stories in 21st century Britain. Sorry OP

Living in the same country: I have experienced DH avoiding section by agreeing to voluntary stay as inpatient (so ill enough to section)... Leaving family home due to illness (our choice at the time not SS) but also being allowed back at our own discretion without raising any concerns.

My own experience of a MBU couldn't have been better, with nursing staff supportive of my reasons against medicating in pregnancy. I also was voluntary but simply to avoid section.

And CPN being a blinking drugs pusher. It's all she could talk about. Despite evidence that other things were more helpful to me than meds, my nurse in the MBU even was annoyed at her and said it was like she couldn't talk about anything but medication to anyone.