i've been off lithium for several yrs. and tried 2 mood stabilizers which caused more side effects than doing what they were to do; i do take 1/2 klonopin in am and as needed throughout the day; anxiety and now insomnia are the most prominent parts on my spectrum; i've only had situational depression but not recurring depression and my diagnosis has always been hypomanic. i get irritated and agitated but i've learned this illness inside and out and seem to manage it; i work out 6x/week; only have 1 glass of wine per week which i can tell isn't good taking 3 meds to sleep nightly so eliminating it is no big deal for me. i do everything i can to maintain good sleep prep. and i have a lot of serenity in my life but there still are those days when i don't feel great. only you (not your p/doc or therapist or whomever) know if the meds work or how you feel from day to day; i'm totally in charge of what i'll take and won't take and haven't been under care of a p/doc since quitting lithium and needing the ongoing blood work and now occasionally video chat w/a psych nurse to update her and to get her input. i've prob. had this disorder longer than most of the people on this website. best of luck.