Being diagnosed with a serious mental illness is a shock. It puts you in a whole different category than you were before. The medicines shouldn't make you feel worse mentally except maybe by making you more stable (if they're working) which can make emotions feel more shallow. (I miss feeling as deeply moved or as exuberant as I could be). I think therapy can definitely open up old problems and wounds at first. Maybe bring out your demons. I do get more vivid dreams--not nightmares but disturbing anyway. I blame my medicines but I haven't decided which one(s).