DePressMe,
I am having side effects w/ abilify - restlessness. I took it a couple of years ago & don't remember having that side effect. So I'm not sure if it's the reduction in my mood stabilizer or the abilify. My point is you are not alone.
I like metalsmithing and making sculptures, but my blunted affect has killed my desire to create - I think I understand where you are coming from.
The muscle jerks you're experiencing may go away. I took Haldol for a short time years ago and it gave me movement problems that eventually went away.
BTW, I visited your blog and liked it very much. It is honest and intense.