Day 1 Seeing a new GP

It was the fifth GP I saw this year.

As I was leaving the apartment, A wished me good luck. I told her if this one still doesn’t work, I would really give up. Really, give up.

The wait was outrageously long—for an hour and a half I just sat there at the clinic, slowly losing my patience, dissociating.

When I saw the doctor I immediately noticed his softness and patience. I already felt a lot better compared to last ones.

Day 2 Getting sodium valproate

Well, we will wait until it works?

Day 3 Waking up disoriented…

But I don’t think it was the meds… it would more likely to be caused by low blood sugar and the intense conversation I had yesterday.

Day 4 Donating plasma while on the meds

Good that on this drug does not make one ineligible for plasma donation.

Day 5 Forgot to increase the dose

Just remembered that every three days I should increase the dose. But until today I am still only taking one tablet per day.

I haven’t experienced any side effects—touch wood. I think my confusing appetite is due to my menstrual cycle rather than the meds.


Still waking up at 4am, getting less than 5 hours‘ sleep. I know I’m in the mania phase. I’m glad that I was convinced to tackle this with the hep of science.

Day 6 Two tabs a day starting tonight

Then on the 8th, Wednesday it should increase to 3 pills a day.

Day 7 Is this side effect or not?

My appetite is mad right now. I have been eating so much. I can’t tell whether I’m experiencing the side effects or this is just part of my mania phase.

I also am not sure if I’m experiencing this cognitive disorder or not. I swear something was different with a student’s hair, but she insisted that she always wore her hair that way. I got so confused.


I am very sure that I am still in the mania phase, for how little sleep I am getting and how talkative I have been. Luckily today I was with the right people: Supervisor and N — I didn’t have to worry about regretting what I have said.

Day 8 Not yet any improvement in my mental state

Although today I feel extremely sad, depressed and exhausted, I do not think I am out of the mania phase. It was just that the high of yesterday was too high I necessarily am expressing the low tide today. The unfortunate lack of sleep and waking up from an emotional dream was not helpful. I cried myself to waking up. I still want to cry as I still feel the sadness lingering. I really wonder what this meds would do and hope it could actually help me feel better.

#mentalhealthjournal #diary