Yes, I completely get where you are coming from. My son is very negative and always down on himself. He has all the same issues your son has except he refuses to take any more medications besides the depakote. The only positive side that we have seen with the drug is that it is a mood stabilizer which seems to keep him more calm in certain situations. Although he is not in college he does live on his own and does all the things a 22 year old does as well. Luckily he stopped the vapping a year ago because he finally realized it is what was making him sick to the stomach every morning. It is so hard to distinguish between the medicine and just being a normal kid!! God bless you both as well:)