This is what severe Manic Depressive Illness looks like...

[pjorourke]

And now, the CBS CEO is getting into the act. This is going to end well.

[Schrödinger's cat]

Originally Posted by Iaintliein

Lithium, being a trace element, is also available as a supplement, and might not be a bad addition to the medicine cabinet.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/14828519/L...isk-of-suicide

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/0...r-suicide.html

http://www.unt.edu/honors/eaglefeath...lanagan4.shtml

Not wanting to argue too much, but I would be very cautious of the sources cited here. Lithium is a very toxic substance. It can result in death if taken in high enough quantities. This is in fact a problem for using it to treat Bipolar Disorder - doctors are in a sense giving the person a prescription that if taken all at once could kill them (and remember - people with Bipolar Disorder are often suicidal). That combined with the fact that blood levels of lithium vary with things like dehydration, exercise, pregnancy (most of the drugs used to treat Bipolar Disorder are not recommended for use during pregnancy), etc.

In fact, adding a little trivia to the mix - ranchers have been known to inject lithium into meat, put it in the fields so that wolves (or other predators) will eat it - get sick and form a taste aversion so that they won't attack sheep and other cute farm critters.

Very careful use of lithium is the only safe approach.

Just my .02 cents.

Schrodinger's Cat

[BellaIsabella]

My brother-in-law actually has this, but thank God he is stable and on medication.

[incognito isis]

Originally Posted by London Rayne

I have much personal experience with being Manic. It's quite scary. My cousin is on Lithium which seems to be the only thing that keeps her in balance. Of course, you feel numb on it which to me is worse than feeling the highs and lows. The first piece of art work I designed is called "Bipolar."

I was on Lithium when I was 20 years old. Yes, you do feel numb and your legs shake. It does work.