Will

I too want to add my sympathies, dedoubt. I started to mention therapy in your thread about new meds, but did not because you were asking a med specific question. I do think therapy has to a huge part of your treatment now. It doesn't seem to me that meds alone will be enough after all you've been through. Support groups would be good too. Maybe you could check with the local NAMI office for that. I just think you need some face-to-face with compassionate people, whether that be the therapist, support groups, or other options. It's Maine, right? http://www.namimaine.org/?page=SupportGroups

I was on lithium for 25 years (1200 mg daily) before took my off due to kidney issues, but also because it had lost efficacy. I had no trouble coming off lithium. I did take depakote when acutely manic a few years ago. I had no trouble going on or off. Sedation? I think I was a little lethargic with depakote. Also there was some weight gain. But I am a compulsive exerciser, which helped with both. (Exercise has helped me in so many ways. I'm sure your doc will tell you walking will be good for your kidney.) I now take lamictal. My energy is good with lamictal. I had no trouble getting up to 300 on that. In sum, I've really had no trouble with change on any medication. Of course, as we always say, everyone is different. My 25 years on lithium were my most stable. I had some trouble with depression but mania is my main problem. Perhaps I actually should be on depakote now because of that, but I am happier with lamotrigine. I've been 2 years without a psychotic break while on it. Change is good if change is necessary. How about that as a mantra? Anyhoo, good luck

This is the good stuff, designed to give me a chuckle and a smile? Please keep the bad stuff under your hat.

Please don't close it. I need more time. I'm working on a companion essay for manic depressives

Actually, I think this is an attempt at satire. That's going to be my take because I'm radiating love and happy thoughts today

Just about perfect. I like to pray/meditate every morning that I might radiate peace and love. But it's a finite goal because some people piss me off.

Just finished Nobody's Fool by Richard Russo and now starting the sequel Anybody's Fool. "Great characters, very funny, yet profound." (That's my review. I probably should be writing for the NY Times.) I think it might make you feel better by reading it. I liked living in it. Actually I'm ambivalent about reading the 2d book because it came out this year and I don't want there not to be a 3rd waiting.

Talk to your doctor about it if you haven't already.

It's often offered a fair-to-middling excuse for my otherwise inexcusable and bizarre behavior.

I saw this on NewsHour tonight. About a manic depressive who has gone thru several arrests. Thought it might be of interest. Forgive me if it's already been posted http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/this-is-what-its-like-to-be-arrested-while-suffering-mental-illness/

those news bloopers are one of my favorite youtube categories

Talk to your doctor for sure. There is solid evidence that lithium is neuroprotective. There is some data that second generation antipsychotics are neuroprotective. This is something that has interested me for a long time and what I am saying here is just the result of internet browsing.

These factors probably didn't help Yemen's score: Forty-eight percent of women in Yemen are married by the time they are 18, and many of these marriages have brides as young as eight years old. Yemeni women are not allowed to marry without the permission of their male guardians. Within their marriages, Yemeni women do not have equal rights to custody, divorce or inheritance, and require a husband or father’s permission and to travel or get a passport. Women in Yemen also suffer from poor health care. Since they are seen as unequal to their male counterparts women are denied many health care rights which results in many pregnancy complications. As of May 2008, one in 39 women in Yemen dies in childbirth.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-34808717 so, I can't get that bbc link ^ to work right now, but this one gives more data anyway -- you select the country from a drop down menu on the left http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2015/

posted stupidly