It can work without medication too. I'm not taking anything yet I am still in control. My hypomanic episodes are more like a good energy drink that gives me a little more energy, confidence, positive thinking, power of will - even thinking of it makes me feel a little better - but sometimes, if I'm under stress, it's like a harsher anxiety attack, still nothing I can't mask successfully in society. The depressive phase worsened a little, I'm thinking about commiting suicide more often, but somehow I was enlightened no to do that because I might live a future life even more miserable than my current one. So, it's under control, I don't really need medication. I believe that, if necessarily, I can even complete a complex task during a severe depressive episode. It's not very bad, at least not for me. I'm bothered by the fact that I'm more prone to anger than before - not violent though.

Still, I can't help but wondering how long will it last? I am aware it can and will get worse if left untreated, how much time do I have left? Sometimes I doubt I'm having it, and then a severe depressive episode kicks in. Can episodes be 'unconsciously triggered' by ourselves? So many questions and so much chaos going on...