It was hard. I battled through the physical problems associated with the onset of medication therapy, like cognitive dulling and fatigue. Eventually those symptoms eased up because they are temporary, and your body adjusts if you give it the necessary time to do so. Sometimes the adjustment takes a while if your neurotransmitters have been screwed up for a very long time, but it happens.
I gained some weight. Did I like that? No. But I've learned to live with it and I've learned how to maintain my weight and I've given myself permission to be who I am. I've even taken some off, but I probably won't take all of it off. And you know what? That's ok, because stability is a DAMN good tradeoff ... and one that you won't fully appreciate until you get there.
Eventually I hit the correct treatment and dosage, and I slipped over into remission. Now my mind feels completely unbound. My mind is my OWN - unfettered and free to be what it was designed to be, with the terrible symptoms of mania that get in the way of so much GONE. And that's a very good thing ... a very good thing.
I'm speaking with the voice of experience. You can have both. Don't settle for anything less. You're worth it.
