Struggling with withdrawal symptoms, the narrator faces a challenging day but finds comfort in routine, companionship, and creativity.

The author reflects on exhaustion after a family meal, considers ME, and emphasises seeking medical advice for similar situations.

After 24 hours without lithium, I’m feeling unusual yet calm, but aware of potential relapse; I’ve sought medical advice for my changes
Lithium is a type of medicine known as a mood stabiliser. It’s used to treat mood disorders such as:

I’m from the UK — living with pain and mental illness, sharing my journals and fragments to show what it really looks like to keep going.