my depression is not the bipolor type depression. I am medication free and deal with it by taking depression management classes that are offered at my therapist agency. I also work in alot of self help workbooks such as Mind Over Mood, The Depression Workbook, The Anxiety Workbook, and The PTSD workbook all of which cover depression and its symptoms.

I have many friends who are bipolor and are managing their symptoms quite well without medication.

The key for me and my friends that I know that are working the no medication route is that we are very involved in our treatment plans. And vice versa our therapists are very involved with our treatment plans.

In fact mine even knows I am in online support groups, which ones and on at least one I have figured out she is a member herself which I find really cool.