I also want to post some links about this, and how bipolar actually causes cognitive dysfunction. This is really important to me as a person who has bipolar disorder with cognitive function, but also as a person who is not medicated and hasn't ever been for any significant amount of time. And yes, I am not a fan of medication, actually. So, I'm not defending meds because I think they are bad for us and I've come to a conclusion for my own self, that I won't take them. But I think that taking meds is a decision everyone should make on their own for their own reasons.

I want to point out that it's incredibly lonely to be in a position of cognitive impairment, surrounded by people who have similar impairment. I agree meds can increase the impairment and that's probably a sign you're on the wrong med. But, if the fact that the real illness behind bipolar and depression is actually cognitive function decline, it doesn't get looked at when everyone just blames the meds. I also understand that each of us has a different level of struggle in this area. Like all the pieces of bipolar, we have a unique experience. However, healing the real cause of the illness could help everyone in the long run.

"Mood disorder" is a bad word in my vocabulary. Because in my years struggling with this illness and no medication, I've come to a very profound realization that the mood swings are a symptom. They are not the illness itself. The moods are symptoms of what's going on with my brain not functioning the way it's supposed to. Just like a runny nose isn't a cold, but it's a symptom of the cold that is really annoying to deal with. And just like a cold, meds are treating a symptom. Cold meds treat a runny nose, but there isn't anything to treat the actual cold. Bipolar meds treat the symptom (mood swings) but there isn't anything to treat the actual cause (cognitive function impairment.) This is my opinion based on my experience.

Okay so the links and everyone should read these. Be warned some are long, and if you're like me with difficulty reading, I read them a bit at a time. But they are worth it.

First an article:
Bipolar Magazine | Memory Loss & Confusion | bphope

Then in that article this is referrenced, a good referrance guide on what cognitive dystfunction is and tips on dealing with it for people with affective disorders (bipolar, depression) and schizophrenia:
Dealing with Cognitive Dysfunction

Thanks for taking the time to read this long thing. This is my main concern with my bipolar and I'm rather passionate about it.