Don't be discouraged by some of the stories. There are plenty of treatment options and a lot of them work well. I like lithium as the gold standard against mania. I take an antidepressant and have been on many of the antipsychotics which work well if you can tolerate the side effects. I have begun to add lamictal for residual depression and mixed state. Give yourself a good six months to a year of working with your doctor regarding meds and adjustments in getting the right balance. This is not an easy illness to treat. Also, I avoid the benzos or anything that could be habit-forming.