Yes, I absolutely do. I denied having BP because I knew I was smarter than that. I had an "important" job...NOT and I thought everyone was lying and sinking me into a mold of current medicine or manipulation. I trusted no one but me. That's who I always depended on. Me. Didn't work out. They didn't know shit. I resented it. I loathed it and I would prove to everyone they were lying. Well, I was lying to myself. I ended up almost dead in intensive care for 8 days and almost didn't make it. This is not anything other than it could be you. TALK to someone (even if it's over the phone) talk and get out of your hell.

Hahahahahahaha!!!!! I almost replied to this and then saw that I already HAD!!!!! LOLOL!!!!!

I feel & look "high" when they kick in.My thinking and actions are flat and disinterested.I can't remember sh*t from one minute to the next. Embarrassing.

Moonshowers what are you on?
you can PM me if you don't want to post it on here.

I have thought about it but i try not to dwell on it b/c the benefits do outweigh the loss of memory.I was on Lithium for about 10 yrs and i know without it I surely would have given up on life.

I feel that way because my memory and concentration is almost shot due to meds. Yeah, dumbed dwn is a great way of putting it. How do you cope with work?

Oceanana said she cant remember anything, what i try to do is focus on what i can remember.i hope this helps :)

I am on depokate and I do believe that it does not make me as sharp in my thinking as I use to be. But it the only med that keeps my bipolar in balance..and I was more motivated to do more things, and had more energy before...but its the only med that works for me.

My whole thought process is shot. Definitely not as sharp as I used to be. Had a party last night and forgot to invite my sister. WTF!!!

I definitely feel dumbed down. My IQ was 142 before meds now it's 137. I am starting college for the first time in 2 weeks. I truly hope I can do it.

I was like you dreaming tree. I totally denied it. for 2 years. And then I just got out of control. I had to do something so I went back and they started me on dopeamax. I have been on it for 6 years now. plus trying every other BP med there is. I have a cocktail that seems to work for the most part now.

It happened whenI first started Lamictal, then that side effect eveuntually wore off. Maybe I'm just plain dumb...lol!

i noticed that i feel "dumbed down" on any of the mood stabilizers or antipsychotics. two thumbs up for the way antidepressants and stimulants make me feel.

maybe its the feeling we have when not manic. when my moods are up, i tend to feel invincible, clever, smart... i know that when my mind is going a mile-a-minute, i feel that anyone who cannot maintain my wavelength of thinking is "dumb." its possible that these meds "slow" us down to the level of everyone else's thinking.

Remembering names is getting worse for me, I call everyone 'Hey you !'

It really get's a bit embarassing sometimes.

When I was on trileptal it was the worst. CRS all the way! Much better on abiify, and my creativity is coming back.

Dumb as a post here. I had testing done. My IQ used to be reasonably above average. Now it's average, which is fine by me. The trouble is my memory is in the bottom 1% of all breathing creatures. I feel as though I walk around in a fog. My one best friend is cool.... he always reintroduces me to people I've known for years and can't remember for whatever reason. It's embarrassing. Mine is probably in part due to concussions from boxing and football tho, so I have no business complaining :o) Can't get this dumb without having fun on the way!!!