--Caveat: Because a common assumption is that every time I post I am talking about myself, this particular post is not. -- The most challenging part of being diagnosed with a mental illness is the first several months. It is that period when you are finally willing to admit that you need treatment, and are taking the steps toward wellness but the medication hasn't kicked in yet, or isn't working, and since doctors aren't always the experts they think they are a diagnosis doesn't equal a correct diagnosis, it's possible that the reason the medication isn't working is because the diagnosis isn't correct but that's an entirely different issue.

What's irritating about this initial stage is that loving and caring (and we musn't forget well meaning) friends are asking every five minutes if we are okay. It is difficult for people who do not understand the concept of mental illness to grasp that it really, truly, is normal to break into tears for no apparent reason. Or to be 'moody' or to use my spouses favourite word 'b*tchy' (a.k.a.) irritable. We, and those around us, somehow expect that our medication, the magical pill, will work the first day we take it, and for a few days it does. But this is the placebo effect.

After this first couple of days, when the placebo effect wears off, we find out that the medication won't *really* kick in for another four to six weeks, and in that period, we are asked every day, sometimes several times a day "(Insert name here) are you taking your medication?"

The medication, even when it does start to work, isn't a magical cure, however, mental illness requires a number of coping techniques, which is why this is a multi-capsule hub.

One diagnosis complication with Bipolar is that, and I hate to impugn the reputation of all those psychiatrists that spent all years and thousands of dollars going school so they could learn everything there is to know about everything, I really do, HOWEVER,

Psst. Doctors make mistakes.

Bipolar, Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder,and Borderline Personality Disorder all exhibit similar symptoms, and those are the three I can think of. Not to mention, if you happen to be admitted to hospital for the first time in a depressive phase, and they don't ask the right questions, they will diagnose you with depression, pump you full of anti-depressants, then tell you that *you* must be doing something wrong when they aren't working.

Then there's the multiple diagnosis: Having Bipolar in combination with any other disorder is a ton of fun. First someone will diagnose you with one thing, then another, then finally you'll get some who has been around for a while, and they'll figure out that you're still having symptoms because they aren't treating all of them.

One risk with any mental illness is self-medicating. Whether you smoke, or use marijuana, or barbiturates, or amphetamines, or alcohol, thse are all considered forms of self-medicating.

Self- medication can, in fact, be detrimental to your health. --Okay, so it can be bad for you in the best of situations, but it can be REALLY bad for you when you have a mental illness, alcohol for example, can make you feel better while you're drinking, but is in fact, a depressant so it will make your depressive symptoms worse.

Amphetamines can be great, especially when you're depressed, or lacking in energy, but have the potential (depending on which one) to put you into a manic phase which is potentially even more dangerous than being depressed.

Barbiturates, like alcohol, have a depressing, or slowing effect on the central nervous symptom, and can make the effects of depression even worse.

Marijuana-- Oh boy, this one's a ton of fun.. Besides the fact that it'll kill your braincells (just ask my pothead neighbour who I am just about positive has dropped about 22 IQ points since moving in here 8)) Will not only exacerbate your symptoms, but after long term use, will add to them.

While you may long for the inability to sleep when you're depressed, you don't want the anxiety, or the restlessness, or the paranoia (to name a few) that go alongside long term marijuana use...