• "Zombified" (emotionally flat)

• Lethargic (no energy or drive)

• Blunted creativity or thinking

• Loss of their "true self"

1. Relapse into Mania or Depression

• About 60–80% of people relapse within 6 months after stopping mood stabilizers.

• Mania is often the first relapse because mood stabilizers mainly dampen highs.

• Depression can also come roaring back, sometimes even worse.

2. Worsening of the Illness Over Time ("Kindling Effect")

• Each new episode tends to make future episodes more likely and harder to treat.

• It’s like the brain "learns" to have mood episodes faster and more severely.

3. Psychotic Breaks

• Without medication, manic episodes can escalate into psychosis (delusions, hallucinations).

• This can lead to dangerous behavior, hospitalizations, or trauma.

4. Risk of Suicide

• Especially after a manic crash or severe depression returns.

• Stopping meds suddenly multiplies the suicide risk.

5. Impulsivity and Risky Behavior

• Unmedicated mania often causes:

6. Relationship Strain

• Mood instability stresses family, friends, and partners.

• Can cause permanent damage to social support systems.

7. Loss of Insight ("Anosognosia")

• As mania builds, the person may lose the ability to see they are sick.

• Makes it harder to re-engage them in treatment.

8. Financial or Occupational Fallout

• Quitting jobs, failing classes, getting fired, or financial ruin from impulsive decisions.

Important Notes:

• Not everyone will spiral immediately. Some people seem fine for weeks or months before the crash hits.

• Gradual, medically supervised medication changes are much safer than just quitting cold turkey.

• Feeling "zombie-like" often means meds need adjusting — not necessarily stopping them completely.