I believe that my meds do help. When I was off them during mania, I got worse. I don't know that I would've had to be inpatient- the one time I was asked to go I didn't but I was still fully on my meds. I know when I stopped them I went through withdrawal and yet my mind still turns. Its an interesting question: Would I be okay without meds. I'm just not comfortable going there right now. My brain is having too much fun WITH the meds.