I quit my lithium because I couldn't tell if there was a difference, experienced two severe manic episodes, and told myself if I'm going to be long-term messing up my kidneys it NEEDS to be way more miraculous. (TL;DR at bottom + book rec) I've been on hundred(s?) of medication and gonna be fully transparent the only things I've managed to treat successfully are my ADHD (vyvanse) and anxiety disorder (clonazepam/klonopin). As far as bipolar medications go nothing's worked for me personally. There was potential with some but I'll never really know because they made me sleep like 16-20 hours straight. But I'll tell you what worked for me better than any medication (and might help you but we all have different journeys); let's just say I, ah, consumed something of a lesser legal variety, (you can pm me if you want more info, but really, you don't NEED to do this), and it basically triggered a series of mind shifts that helped me realize that at the end of the day my basic emotional needs were not being met, I wasn't honest with myself, and because of this I was constantly dysregulated. Started setting boundaries with toxic family and friends, putting a LOT less pressure on myself and not pushing myself to do things that are too mentally taxing to the degree I can't function (at the time being that means full-time work, university, etc.). Started being a lot kinder to myself in what I say and where I spend my time (reading books vs. doomscrolling, hobbies instead of netflix etc, but again this will look different for everyone). Anyways TL;DR; figure out what needs of yours aren't being met, do you need to feel validated, like you matter? Do you need to feel fulfilled? This won't CURE you, but if you're like me and you've tried countless medications that haven't really helped... Sometimes with bipolar though there's no choice. My episodes aren't severe, I've never been hospitalized for it or anything like that, but buddy I've suffered lol. And I've also known peace, and I wish it on you as well. Okay I have a book recommendation. If you don't want to read, the author also has a youtube channel where she posts pretty similar topics. https://www.youtube.com/@afriendontheinside8067 https://www.amazon.ca/Art-Being-1-Step-Journey-Finding/dp/B0F5R1JF71/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=304UYFLMWJR8V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cZp7titc9ykHI7BzQKuOPW-XhKqbAnYbLO8CEagBfQqVHIKDW65_bZPFaYYz_cxJ.QzKxJmJI2cqnBcyQz-rsdR0jbIlZw6bPa-SBl7ug8Y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=shristi+vadini&qid=1752922969&sprefix=shristi+vadini%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1-fkmr0 It can sound super spiritual-y and religious-y maybe, but I assure you her teachings can apply to anyone. Again, this isn't a cure, but hopefully it can help you in some ways!
