It has brought more contentment to my life once I "got it" and finally accept that other people have their own opinions and that is the end of what comes out of their mouth. Their opinion. Their opinion applies to themselves only.

I can offer my own experience and say that taking no meds did not work for me. I dont take meds to be "happy". I take them to be a functional person. I take them to survive. So that I am not sitting with a loaded gun in my hand, crying, for days and calling in sick to work. So that I dont have to call people over to take care of my kids because I cant. And because I look back with embarrassment and such regret over things I did when manic that I carry shame around inside me.

I go to therapy because after 16 years on meds I finally "got it" that for me, meds alone were not going to solve this. I have issues to deal with. Doctors suggest therapy to accompany meds and therapists suggest meds to accompany therapy.

It's not fruitful to try to force others to accept or agree with our own experiences and use the same treatment. Just my opinion.