Well, in terms of trying medications prescribed and sticking with them to give them a fair shot, I've been a very patient and good. In the earliest days I did go off my meds cold turkey twice as a rebellion, but I only did so because I was manic and thought I could control myself again (or wanted to drink again or who knows). I ended up in the psych hospital within only a week both times. That sort of taught me a lesson. My episodes worsened as a result, and that was very horrible! Psychosis, just horrible!

One of the stubborn (or difficult) things about me in the beginning was that I had major alcohol cravings. I would generally not drink (after my detox), but occasionally have slips and they made things exponentially worse. Then I went through a period when I tried to drink in moderation. That period I managed to stay out of the hospital, but just barely. In the end the drinking had to stop! When it did (or became so little that it was insignificant) my moods improved a lot.

I'm very tolerant of side effects. I've tolerated many that most people wouldn't have. Not to say that I didn't reach a point where I finally said "Stop!", but usually only after the side effects were too extreme.

I had doctors trying to push me into ECT a few times. I did resist the first two times, but then gave in. My first treatment was pretty scary. Normally it wouldn't/shouldn't have been, but the anesthesiologist underestimated the amount of anesthesia I needed and I woke up before the muscle relaxant wore off. Not being able to move, open your eyes, or feel you could breath is frightening beyond belief. The anesthesiologist interviewed me after I told the story and apologized profusely. Perhaps some people would have made a bigger deal about it than me or stopped the ECT, but I continued it. The remaining treatments went OK.

I'm a very good patient now. I barely drink and communicate a lot with my psychiatrist and therapist. Unlike in the early days I actually work on using coping skills. I've found a psychiatrist and therapist that I trust and respect and have been with them for years, unlike in my early days when I changed therapists like socks.