Hi All- Im new to this and dont know if the post I just tried to add was deleted or not... It has helped me read everyone's story, so I thought it would be good for me to share my own experience. I have a long history of anxiety (I have a degree in worrying) with sleep loss growing up which can get the better of me. In my early 20s after lots of anxiety and losing a tremendous amount of sleep- had a full blown manic episode and was hospitalized. The public nature of the episode did not help my anxiety issues... After counseling and lithium and various sleeping meds was fairly stable for over 20 years- then had some thyroid reaction to lithium and my PCP and I thought it might be ok to go without meds. Was ok for over a year but after chronic stress and another serious spike in anxiety- and right after I was put on Trazadone for sleep (which also happens to be an antidepressant and can cause mania), I wigged out again and had another hospitalization. Left my home and job in the process but am lucky to have support from friends and family. On seroquel now which seems to help but insurance problems making it pricey, hoping a cheaper med solution can be worked out. Trying to decide what to do for work so that I dont add to my anxiety issues but no solutions falling into my lap after several months. Tired of crying myself to sleep not knowing my future, hoping that tomorrow is a bettter day. Thanks for your stories which help me feel less alone and more human.