Your experiences in life are not indicative of the whole of the populace and it would be shortsighted to assume that they are. Many people cycle through life both with and without a given medication and find that the world is more manageable when substance X, Y, or Z is in play. Classifying Lithium as a "nightmare of a substance" is a sweeping judgement that, whether intentionally or not, also casts a negative reflection on those who intelligently and rationally choose to employ it daily to improve their quality of life. What works for you is not what works for everyone.