I realize I may not be able to stave off the depression entirely but my hope is that through being honest with myself and my dr's i might be able to avoid slipping into the hopeless abyss that I've had to scrape and claw my way out of. That said I know that I must be just as vigilant about being hypo or full on manic, the hypo is very easy for me to enjoy but these periods always result in terrible fall out if they go left unchecked. I am seeing for the first time that they're just as unhealthy for me as the hopelessness.