I began writing a book in 1982. I am now writing again. With this "Bipolar/ADD mind" of mine it is a challenge! But I don't care if I never get it done, I am so happy I am writing again. I did put the book together in a large binder. That is a major achievement for me. There are days that I look back over the last one to three days and it seems I floated through them. I do get tired when I have a string of mania days. I was mania most of my life now that I look back on it but without the drops. The drops are painful I think because I try to analyze them too much. But I have to remind myself even as I write this that the drops usually come when I miss my medication. In a perfect world they would make it easier to get the medications. There are such tight restrictions on Concerta for example that I have to drive all the way to my doctor's office to get a new prescription every 30 days. This should be easy, but for me it is not very easy. My daughter is allowed to pick it up, but sometimes I forget to give her & my doc enough notice.

If not for the researchers, the doctors & the trials I would have no hope. I am able to live a good life again because I have fought hard to keep my mind and I seek out good psychiatrists to help me. I am fortunate because I have a family doctor who insists I go to my shrink for my psychiatrist medications. It is not easy. It is very hard battle but it is a fight worth fighting.