I'm confused..., to be a participant in the group do I post my comments here on the bulletin board or on the link that says Group February 1-10? Please advise. Thank you, Victoria

I am new to this group and excited to talk with other people about depression and anxiety and things that have worked or not worked for them. I struggle daily with this disease and have for quite sometime. Sometimes I feel like a guina pig with all the meds I've tried unsuccessfully. Here I am again switching to something new in hopes that we can find something that works without to many side-effects.
I thought I left a post..but can't find it..not sure how to navigate around the site yet. Anyways, if there are two post I guess I'll find out eventually.
I am glad to find this group and hope to become friends with many of you.

My medication management is like having snow tires to me. In the winter, it is hard to get around in the snow without snow tires. You sputter, spin out and it often takes a while longer to get where you need to go. Nonetheless, you get there. Sometimes you have to miss out on things because you aren't able to get through the muck to get there. Sure, you make it through winter without snow tires, but it is so much smoother and more pleasant with snow tires. I've lived with mild to moderate depression for over a decade. I can survive without medication, but my anti-depressant is such a great tool to help my life be smoother and more stable. I don't waste my time in the muck as long. I realize for some, however, medication is more vital.

I was recently diagnosed with bipolar after more than a decade of working on SAD and depression. I was in denial about the mania. I just recieved a prescription for Lamictal to treat bipolar. I've been taking Paxil and Trazadone each year from October until March, in combination with excercise, light therapy, diet, counseling, journaling, etc. The mania usually kicks in April thru August and I have not been taking any meds during those months.

Paxil/Tazadone helps with depression, but past experience with antidepressants in the spring and summer make the mania worse.

My/our current plan is to step down the current med's over this month and begin the Lamictal next month. Doc says it may be the only med I need for both highs and lows.

I'm wondering what experience others have had with Lamictal.