I think people who are diagnosed Bipolar truly have a chemical imbalance in their brain... one that OFTEN times requires medication to remain stable. I know that I will be on medication for the rest of my life and I'm fine with that. People have to take medication everyday for a number of physical ailments: high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorder, chrones disease etc etc.They take these medications everyday to prevent symptoms and to help keep them healthy. Taking bipolar medication is no different. We have something wrong within our brains so we have to take medication to stay stable. There is no shame in that! And I don't know why people are so afraid or worried about having to take medication forever. Like I said, you would obviously do so for the other problems I listed, why is Bipolar Disorder any different? Why would you ever want to stop taking something that makes you feel better and keeps you sane?

Also I want to say that although I voted for medication & therapy for life... I'd like to change that to medication for life only. I think WITH medication and time and plenty of therapy, you can learn live a stable, normal, happy life without the need to see a therapist ongoing.