"i was previously diagnosed with major depression with severe anxiety attacks. i was taking anti-depressants and anxiety medication for 3 years. my mood would vary greatly throughout this time period. i was self medicate until one night i tried to drive myself off of a bridge with my car full of people. i realized at that point i needed help and nothing was working. i call my therapist he suggested that i go to the emergency room.  i did. i ended up getting admitted for attempted suicide.  after a week in the hospital it was apparent i was bipolar and in a episode. i suffer from manic and depressive episodes. they put me on tegretol xr and i began to be able to actually sleep a whole night and think normally."