This is kind of exciting for me to here from other BP 1s. I guess you guys ave been there all the time. Since my manic episodes have always involved psychotic delusions, maybe you can understand how lucky I feel that there is a medication that works for me. Oh, I hate taking it and the minor side effects. And I'm a little ashamed of my chronic mental illness, but I see so many other people here and elsewhere who just can't find the therary or medication to find balance in their lives. I'm not a religious person (except when I'm Jesus, of course) but I actually think that there is some reason why I was given this illness. As a social worker, it has helped me be more compassionate. And having a wife who isn't freaked out about it makes her very special and me very lucky. I'm not always this cheery, in fact , I can be a real pain in the @ss at times. I've been hypo-manic for a week now so I'm kind of chatty. Nice hearing from you all.