That's the eternal question. Although there have been no studies to link BP and creativity, we all know that it is. Mania gives you "flight of ideas", well, that is creativity of some sort, not always artistic, sometimes business, whatever, but yes they're linked IMO.
You're talking about leaden paralysis, otherwise known as bipolar depression. Nice isn't it. Talk about no creativity!
I am NOT endorsing mania. While it can enhance your career in the industry in some ways, it can ruin your life in the process. I'm type I, too, and it's the worst! It gets worse with age, you may or may not have noticed that yet, I don't know how hold you are. I'm 41 and have seen it progress to horrifying depths over the last 5 years. (only been medicating seriously for 1.5 yrs).
I'll give you my example of the creativity thing. I was always artistic, a painter, a musician and a cook. I went for a period starting meds that made me crash, but I was psychotic and had to be brought down, fast. I lost my interest in everything for about 2 months, but it gradually returned. I find now that I'm stable the work that I do artistically is much better, I'm actually funnier, everything is much much better. I have more patience to get it just perfect. If you've never been stable, you don't know what you're missing! Normal people do not feel slow, although you may feel like you're in slow motion while you get adjusted to your meds, you will lose the irritability and the anger, the constant mood swings all day long, the split personality. You will find out who you really are, because the ugly person will be gone.
One thing: You may feel like **** while adjusting to meds. That is the sole reason most BPs don't like to medicate. It's becuase of the temporary feeling that isn't so pleasant before you get stable. You don't just take some pills and it's all better. I wish it were that easy!!!!!!! Just perservere. Get through it and don't give up. It's temporary!
After you're stable you will still have mood swings. They won't be devastating and/or debilitating, tho. They are tolerable and usually only bothersome in spring and fall.
If you're truly type I, Lamictal by itself isn't going to do it for you more than likely. It has not been approved to stop mania, only to control it after it has been stabilized. The average number of meds BPs are on is 4.5, a cocktail is a must. There are too many facets to BP than just mania. Depression, anxiety, psychosis (in type I only) all require different medications, it's a trial and error thing, you add as necessary and change if a particular one doesn't work for you. They don't always affect or work the same in different people, some work, some don't; some meds have side effects you can tolerate, some you can't. It can take some time, but I imagine you have a wonderful doctor there who will work with you to get it done quickly.
It is best to medicate, you WILL feel better and your work will be better once you get stabilized (no mania AND no depression). If this isn't the case, then you aren't on the right med combination, but it will take some time. Lamictal is an excellent choice for BP depression, it's a stabilizer, yes, but it works mainly on preventing the lows, the other stabilizers do a better job of preventing highs in type I usually. Lam saved my life last year. It takes a while because you have to accumulate slowly. Don't worry about the rash, it's extremely rare so just call the doc if you start getting a rash, it's called Stevens Johnson's Syndrome and IF it happens it will happen when you begin it.
I hope this helps and if there is anything else I can do or answer for you, please ask.