It's not as easy as drawing a line between functional and nonfunctional, but off meds, I absolutely abhorred my life and all of the extremes and dysfunction that came with me being unmedicated. With the help of a really good pdoc, I'm finding meds and exercise and meditation and socialization, and my life is becoming something I can live with.

Even 4 years ago, I could never imagine having a life I wanted to live. I guess meds aren't a necessity for everyone, but I know myself, I am much, much better with them. All the meditation and exercise in the world doesn't help me unless I'm feeling stable enough to do them.