I must agree with you. I was totally against meds, especially because they never helped me as a teenager. I even managed my episodes on my own for six years so I reasoned I could not have bipolar. I never felt manic or even hypo. Now looking back I can remember times that were probably hypo and times hat were probably mixed and definite depressions. I fought meds and the dx for a few months until I had a full manic episode. This last manic episode was the worst and I feel I am no longer capable of living med free. I can't be hospitalized every two months with hallucinations and delusions. I can't suffer through debilitating depression and hope to keep my job. How many hospitalizations will they tolerate before they fire me at the end of the school year? Probably not many. I am super jealous of everyone who can manage without meds but for me, that's the way I have to go and will probably always have to go.

But at least I found something that works!