I recognize that I'll need to be on meds for the rest of my life, and I've accepted this. But I wonder how much our recovery from Bipolar Disorder depends upon our mindset - meaning, a positive or negative outlook.

I'd say it's the most important part. Best drugs in the world will not give you will to live (to me not wanting to off yourself does not equal wanting to live).

So I think it ALL depends on one's mindset. Everything else is secondary. All the therapies and drugs and whatever... all pointless unless you do have the "here I am and gonna make best of this life, no matter the obstacles".

I'm not sure. When I was going through my worst ever depressive episode, my mind felt like I wasn't capable of making any choices, even the most basic of choices. Somehow I doubt I would have been able to form the thinking of "It's temporary, I'll get through this".

I think this can be learned. You know it is gonna pass, because it did before. YOu can learn to work in crisis mode.

This does not mean you "snap out of it", but you don't have to be at mercy of your moods. Doing so makes it only worse.

I often hear how I must be "stable" all the time since I don't need drugs or not even bipolar at all... that is not so. Even on meds..... you still gonna have episodes and how you deal with it is what matters at the moment. It's not about "treatment" you use... but you cannot count on it to keep you sane.