Manic Depression
Good discussion.
I was diagnosed 40 years ago with Manic Depression. Seems the didn't call it bipolar or divide it in two.
I was in hospital at the time having had my second acute manic episode. I was put on Lithium which i have been taking ever since. Unfortunately over the years I have also felt the need to self - medicate and a couple of times to stop taking the Lithium with predictable results (hospitalisation).
It wasn't until 15 years ago that I was diagnosed (by myself) as alcoholic.
I walked into an AA meeting and got with the programme. Wish I'd done that sooner but one has to have a desire to stop drinking. It works.
I will keep taking the Lithium until it starts to damage my kidneys. Then I'll have to find an alternative.
We have a chemical imbalance in our brains on top of that i poured another mental illness: alcoholism.
I need to take my "medicine" for both.