Welcome to the bipolar anonymous club. Your story is not unique and you could have been describing my life in the beginning stages of acceptance of the illness. What I need from you is what state are you in if you feel ok in sharing it. There are a number of programs for lower income people to get free medications from drug companies when they can’t afford them.

Here are some suggestions:

Go to your regular doc or psychiatrist and explain you don’t have the medications due to unemployment.  They get free samples all the time. Lithium is about the cheapest medication out there.

Wal-Mart now carries wide range of bipolar medications that can be bought for $4.00 per prescription.

Most states have programs to get us free medications. But you need to be in treatment with one of the state agencies…that’s why I asked what state you’re in.

You can also go to your local ER and have them do a evaluation and explain you’re not on your medications and need help. As much as we don’t won’t to hear it….an inpatient stay may get you on the right track.

I’m not sure if it helps to hear that you’re not alone with this and most of us here do understand exactly what you’re going through. It does and will get better as long as you follow through with getting help. You need to connect with one of your family members (mom, dad, brother or sister….) that you can trust and explain you are in need of their help to get you through this. That’s what families are for.