I'm not sure where she was coming from because I'm not her.

I do know that the fact is bipolar illness does have a biological basis, there is a chemical imbalance in the brain and if left untreated it does tend to worsen over time. People can go from one or two episodes a year to rapid cyclers over several years of being unmedicated.

I've had episodes since I was 15, went undiagnosed and unmedicated for 11 years. I've had 3-4 episodes of major depression and hypomania annually for the last 2 years whereas before I'd only have one. I was diagnosed last summer and have been on effective meds now for about 6 months.

Meds have side effects and risks and those should be weighed, but I don't want to think about where I'd be without mine. I hate taking them, I hate needing chemicals to hold down a job, be a good mom, and stay alive, but unfortunately I do. My therapy helps a lot too.

It seems that bipolar people do best with meds AND therapy so keep that in mind as well. There are always going to be exceptions or people who choose to ride out the waves without meds but I'll tell you if I had diabetes I'd take insulin, if I had cancer I'd do chemo, I take an inhaler for my asthma. Why should psych meds be any different. The stigma pisses me off more than anything.