Everyone loves lists, especially stuff like "Top 10 Movies About Ginger Ale of All-Time," or—if you're regionalistic booster freaks like we are in my city—a whole issue of an alt weekly devoted to "Top 100 Songs Made in Philly By Jazzy Guys Who Now (Or Have Once) Worn Berets."

But my list is a little difference. It's: "Top 35 Psych Meds I've Taken to Try to Put My Damaged Brain Back Together After Its Marbles Have Been Released on a Slanted Hardwood Floor." Below are all the drugs I've taken at one time or another to try to address my bipolar and OCD.

They are:

Celexa
Desyrel
Effexor
Lexapro
Luvox
Nardil
Norpramin
Pamelor
Parnate
Paxil
Prozac
Serzone
Tofranil
Wellbutrin
Zoloft
Lamictal
Lithium
Tegretol
Depekote
Ambien
Sonata
Ativan
Buspar
Klonopin
Clozaril
Risperdal
Seroquel
Thorazine
Zyprexa
Adderall
Desoxyn
Dexedrine
Ritalin
Neurontin
Topamax

I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch. Then you also have to keep in mind that all of those were tried alone, then in combination. It's enough to keep John Nash crunching numbers for days.

My point? Don't get discouraged if you've taken a medication for a couple weeks and you don't feel anything happening. It can take a lot of time and complex effort for you and your doctor to hit upon the right thing.

Wait. That seems like the wrong point. Let me try again.

My point? This mental illness stuff blows. I'm happy to be stabilized at the moment.

[Image by Ori-gomi via Flickr.]