Meds

I've been prescribed about a dozen different psychiatric medications. For anti-depressants, I've tried: Celexa, Prozac, and Zoloft. Stimulants included: Adderrall, Focalin, and Vyvanse. When hospitalized, I was medicated with an anti-psychotic, Risperdal, and Abilify. Off the books, I used cannabis and abused prescribed stimulants to treat my depression.

It's taken about 11 years to settle on the correct combination and dosage to treat my Bipolar Disorder: Lithium (morning and night) and Depakote (night). Both are salts and are also used to treat other conditions. The side-effects I notice the most are lethargy and some weight gain. But the benefits thus far outweigh the negatives. My sleep has leveled-out and the mood swings are mostly manageable.

This is NOT an endorsement of any form of medication or treatment. I'm writing this as my way of attempting to de-stigmatize conversations around psychiatric medication. Part of the reason I believe it took so many years to get a proper diagnoses is because I was unable, for some reason, to accurately describe what was going on to a lot of doctors. It felt like I went in wanting a cure for something rather than prepared for a conversation. Doctors did the best they could based on the information I gave them. And the result was roughly a decade's worth of mistreating my condition and self-medicating.

My treatment is currently working for me, but I believe every situation is unique. Some people choose to improve mental health with dietary changes and physical activity, others look to alternative treatments. I would encourage anyone struggling with her/his mental health to be open to as many forms of treatment as possible, while avoiding self-diagnosing or self-prescribing based on her/his own research.