[Jon]

When we start comparing meds I know that I need to remind myself that every physical, mental and emotional state is different amongst us. My medication success today may very well be not so good for somebody else.

Same gender, height, weight, background, issues and more rarely add up to same results.

At the same time it's important for me to at least get it out in the open (or sort-of open!) that yes, I take meds.

I used to belong to a really cool DRA meeting in Pasadena. Run just like a 12-Step meeting, but with the complete freedom-and encouragement, to share about meds and manics, drugs and depressions, hospitizations and more. It was a very healing place for me because I didn't have to hide anymore.

And as a counselor on a Dual Diagnosis locked unit, my message, everyday, was what do we have to today to be able to cope just a little more. Yes, we're sick. And yes, we can and do get better,

It is so important to work WITH our drugs instead of waitng for them to make us feel____________.

And working pro-actively with our meds gives a sense of impowerment that doesnt come from the pill bottle.

A silly joke that I've used over the years when meds stopped working or were working way to extreme, helped me focus on the whole idea of getting stabilized. I was to say out loud, "Well, I guess thats why it's called Practicing Medicine."

Because in reality, that's what it is. Practicing until the right med or combination works.

So I just keep practicing along with it.

I feel grateful and fortunate today that I am, in fact, stable. And have been stable psychiatrically for some time.

Lithium.

Breakfast of Champions for Manic-Depressives Everywhere.