u/rainbowmuffin3

I’ve been taking lithium for several years, along with Abilify Maintena and Depakine. Over the past several months, I’ve developed persistent slurred speech and a heavy/stiff feeling in my tongue. My lithium levels have been normal.
I’ve already been evaluated for EPS/tardive dyskinesia related to Abilify, but I’m wondering if lithium could also be contributing.
Honestly, I’m getting really tired and frustrated because I’ve seen several doctors and still don’t know exactly what’s going on. I have another appointment coming up soon, so I’m hoping for the best.
Has anyone experienced similar speech or tongue problems while taking lithium?

I was diagnosed years ago, and sometimes I try to remember what I was like before bipolar. I genuinely can’t. It feels like my whole adult life has been shaped by it.
Does anyone else feel this way?

I don’t really know what happened. It wasn’t one big event, it was a lot of little things. But looking back, I feel like my bipolar diagnosis played a huge role.
Between episodes, medications, and trying to adjust to a completely different life, I slowly lost most of my friends. It’s been years, and I still don’t think I’ve fully grieved it.
Sometimes I wonder if I miss the friendships themselves, or if I miss who I was before everything changed.
Has anyone else experienced this? Did you ever make peace with it?

I got typed by a professional as an ISFP, but I don’t really feel like a “sensing” type. I don’t know much about MBTI, so excuse me if I’m not using the right terminology.

I’m the type of person who doesn’t really notice small details around me. For example, if furniture in the house changed, I might not even notice. If I just met someone and someone asked me what they were wearing, I probably wouldn’t remember.

What I do notice more is body language, someone’s energy, their attitude, and the overall vibe I get from them. Things like that stand out to me way more than physical details.

Does that still make sense for an ISFP, or does that sound less like a sensing type?

I’m thinking of switching therapists, partly because the cost has become hard to keep up with, but I’m feeling really anxious about starting over with someone new.

I’ve been with my current therapist for a while, so she already knows my history and how I process things. The idea of having to explain everything again feels overwhelming.

Has anyone been through this? Did starting over with a new therapist end up being easier than you expected?

Do you ever feel stable but still not ‘normal’ because you’re always careful? I’m happy with my progress throughout this whole journey, but there’s always something I’m scanning whether it’s my mood, my sleep, stress, my medications.. it’s like I’m okay, but I’m never fully relaxed in being okay..

Does anyone else feel this way? Like you’re doing better but still don’t feel completely free?