I have high confidence that lithium and a lot of other mood stabilizers are worth a lot of risks. Even if you are skeptical of the diagnosis, mood stabilizers can truly increase the quality of your life DRAMATICALLY! I know that health anxieties are not always rational, and under no circumstances am I trying to steer you away from lithium, meaning it has saved people's lives (as people in here have said), but the Lamictal rash is NOTHING! It happens in less than 0.3% of patients. And you titrate up to easily detect signs. It's weight neutral, there's no blood work, eating restrictions or anything else that goes along with lithium. My pic always described Lamictal as the most low maitnance mood stabilizer. If I were you, I would give that a try first!