I've been having depressive and hypomanic symptoms since around 7th grade. After a number of doctors, therapists, a misdiagnosis, being put on zoloft and risperdal, drug and alcohol abuse, multiple suicide attempts, and finally being sent to the hospital by a security guard who found me wandering around near Bothel, WA (miles from my home at the time) I was finally diagnosed as Bipolar II about two years ago.

The doctor who saw me in the psych ward prescribed lithium, which worked pretty well. After the month's supply they sent me home with ran out, I never went to the free clinic to get them refilled and went fully untreated until December. Just before a year ago last Christmas, I began having elaborate delusions and left my apartment naked save for a sheet, and jumped backwards from a 40 foot building in Seattle, shattering three vertebrae. Miraculously, though I didn't have any function in my left leg or much in my right, through physical therapy I was walking within a couple of weeks. Within a couple of months I didn't need a cane or the back brace anymore.

I had to move back home with my parents in Louisiana to live, since I couldn't support myself. Now, it's been nearly two years since the diagnosis and I'm 21 years old and making straight As in college and about to find a part-time job. I'm planning to move to Texas to finish my BA after next school year. I've also quit smoking cigarettes and drinking. I keep wondering why I waited so long to get medicated. Though now, I really think I need therapy again. I'm not having depression, hypomania, delusions, etc. I am starting to feel irritable and anxious a lot though. I think I may also be hitting that "zombie" point some people talk about experiencing after being on lithium for a while. I've also had significant weight gain and acne (for which I'm seeing a dermatologist, and it's clearing up). I don't really feel like telling these things to my general doctor and his rotating stream of med students, but I feel like maybe it's time to try something new or supplemental to the lithium. I feel like I'm just settling with the status quo. I am so grateful though, to be walking, alive, and be so functional after having broken my back. If you haven't already, get help guys, seriously!