What is the goal of medication then?

To totally avoid episodes?

Or if it isn't possible to totally avoid episodes, is the goal to tone them down?

If you're on meds and still have episodes, is that a sign that your meds aren't right? Or is it something that can't be avoided? Or does it vary from person to person?

Thanks for the responses. This is pretty interesting.

My regular MD had me on 20 mg of Celexa only, which left me in depression. She doubled Celexa, which knocked me into mania. Then she added Abilify and I'm on my fourth day of taking it. Too soon to figure out if we're on the right track.

Meanwhile, she's calling to try to get me in to see a pscyhologist because she thought she might get me in faster than if I call on my own. Apparently it's difficult to get in to see psychologists and psychiatrists around here.

But I'm hoping I will soon be able to see a therapist regularly.

This question about finding the right meds and possibly still having episodes really had me concerned, though.