I had brain surgery in 1992 to remove a tumor in my right temporal lobe & a growth in the center of my brain that my neurologist thought was promoting grand mal seizures.
Within 10 days of the surgery, I developed severe depression. In fact, within the 2 months of recovery, I had 3 suicide attempts. Having been placed in the psych ward of the hospital, they tried numerous medications to help alleviate the depression. It wasn't until the third week there that they tried me on Lithium, with great results. The depression miraculously lifted. I was later diagnosed with bipolar illness. Was released 1 week later on condition that I see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis. That helped immensely. I learned to accept & forgive myself for my downfalls. I love my life now. Yet, because I was on such a high dose of Lithium, my shrink thought it best to replace it with a less dangerous drug... Namely valproic acid. It is my happy pill to this very day.