I know that I don't function without medication. I was on Effexor and lithium in 1992-95 and thought I could go off them. Every 3 or 4 months I would go into hypomania with extreme irritability and was given anti-anxiety medication. Then, finally after about 1.5 years, I crashed into a depression that lasted 3 years before it was finally under control, for awhile. I have now had a year of stability due to medications and ECT.

I know that I am in for a lifetime of medication and probably some ECT treatment.