wow. thanks for this thread. gives me some better insight on things right now where I'm at. I'm not in the 'feel good' part anymore. it's the 'irritable/uncomfortable' part now. i know these things if I'm not in the midst of it but it's good to hear someone else say it. Whether or not meds are the answer, that I do not know. I'm not sure that it's not better to learn how to live thru the cycle instead of using medication which never seems to fully work so it's just a knock-off band-aid that comes with side effects that are more insane than anything that goes on in my head during this. jmho. conventional wisdom would say a depression will follow from where I'm at right now but I don't think that is a guarantee and if I (we) can learn how to live thru the up part, why not the down part too? The alternative is been doped up on meds, indefinitely, that might help keep things in 'balance' a little more but I've still cycled with meds. Is it more 'comfortable' with meds? Yes, probably. By far perhaps.