Meds for me, are a necessity. I have near catatonic depressions and psychotic manias without meds. I tried for years to just do cognitive behavioral therapy. Which does work to an extent. But I just wasn't able to think clearly enough to use my skills. The depression was so heavy that I could barely move let alone think. The meds help regulate the chemicals in my brain enough that I can use my cognitive behavioral skills. The meds don't take everything away by themselves. If they did, life would be so much easier. But the therapy doesn't work by itself either. Spirituality doesn't do it for me, nor eating right and exercising. The only thing that has worked, is everything together.