Vicki, depression is so confusing. It's as if our minds get mired in quicksand in the midst of a blinding blizzard that never ends. It's always a joy and cause for proud celebration when someone survives depression and thrives beyond that despair. I'm so glad you found the right combo of meds...bipolar can be so tricky to treat because the meds have to be customized for each person's sensitivies and metabolism.

For a long time after that first major breakdown in the 80's, I was terrified of becoming depressed again. Every time I was "down" or "blue", I panicked. I didn't know hubby at the time, but did have a very patient, supportive GP as well as a pyschiatrist who really clicked with me and genuinely cared. They had to teach me what was "normal" for me and what my particular danger signs and triggers were. The psychiatrist called them "road markers". That was twenty years ago, but I still use those road markers as my guidelines.