I went through the same thing with Depakote and then lesser so with lithium. I was forgetting to pay my bills, do things on my calendar, and such. I sort of became an irresponsible oaf.

Now, I exercise and climb mountains. These give me a purpose and help clear the head. Most importantly, they help keep me sharp. I keep it light in terms of the end game but going through the process helps my mind focus. Like any other element of the body, the brain will go to mush unless we keep it alive. On the sedentary side, I play guitar and read all kinds of books (usually historical biographies).

Another positive side effect is that it gives me a routine. As we know, this is important to people with BP.

The negative is that these tend to be solitary pursuits but that doesn't bother me all that much. I can balance getting my arse out the door and plopping my arse on the couch. And I now know that if I channel my energy internally, I can accomplish a lot.