Well, here's the way I see it:

I think there is a drug called Naltrexone (or something similar) that is prescribed now for alcohol addiction. That might curb the craving for alcohol. You've got to get clean of the drugs before the psychotropic medications can target well the sites that need attention in the chemistry imbalance. Don't tell me, please, that Marijuana should be continued while you're taking psychotropic medications. That is just delaying the long-term effects of Marijuana dependence.

You will be in a very fragile condition for a while just from the adjustments that sometimes must be made in prescribed medications. You may even have to switch a couple of times to get to the right "cocktail" that stabilizes moods in bipolar illness.

You mentioned earlier that it was a "relief" of sorts to find out that you have bipolar illness, type II. Let me tell you that it is not an illness to play around with. You are going to have to change your diet, take the meds, and work to maintain your stability. If you don't do those things, the illness can get worse.

You need every bit of clarity and clean conditions in your brain for psychotropic medications to be of real benefit. Otherwise, you may just be cancelling out the effects of taking meds, and then you still have all the money you've put into psychotherapy to, hopefully, help you go into remission.

Man, I'm bipolar II, also, and I can tell you that I don't even eat wheat anymore because of the terrible things it does to feeling tone, the addiction it causes, and the weight problems associated with exorphins from grains containing gluten. You have no idea yet how sensitive your system is to anything that can cross the blood-brain barrier. The brain is a very reactive organ to things that can reach it!

It is not a simple illness, and you need to get yourself in the best condition you can be in for your illness to be stabilized and maintained in a healthy way for the rest of your life. It can go into remission for rare people, but they are extraordinary in their ability to manage their medications, severity of illness, diet, exercise, and stress in order to do that.

You have a lot to look forward to if you are willing to put your well-being first.

It can be made better as you age when you take care of yourself. Please do so.

Best wishes.