Hi cyclecrash,

Years ago I hit my forehead on a steel dock plate (used for unloading trucks) and now looking back a lot of my mental health issues began shortly there after. I have been diagnosed with bipolar /depression. And I have been on most of the meds you listed. All with the same nasty side effects.including smoking in bed & not remembering it & I never smoke in the bedroom. Very scary!

Until this latest concussion I have chosen to live med free. I am currently weaning myself off Lexapro. I plan on using the L-Tryptophan since Mark from Idaho has been having good success with it.

Like with my PCS I have to learn my triggers so I can avoid them and/or develop work arounds.

It hasn't been an easy road not taking the psych meds but I have had to maintain a strong support network of family & a couple of really close trusted friends and learn to pay really close attention to how I feel and my behaviors, like is this shampoo any better than the other 4 bottles I have, or do I really need 3 bags of chocolate candy, can I afford to go to the casinos, things like that.

I still have depressed days but I allow myself to be human and know that not everyday is going to be an up day and every one has a "blue" day and I give myself permission to be blue. It's what I do the next day that counts.

I attend 12 step meetings and use the "take the body and the mind will follow" approach to feeling better. Going for walks, doing something I enjoy doing even if I don't feel like it. I have to do something to keep the depression from swallowing me up.

My thoughts are with you on this journey.