After my first major episode at 19, I went 12 years as an adult with no meds, no therapy, nothing. And I was fine.

Then I went totally insane. All it took for me was a massive series of triggers, and I went completely over the edge. But I agree, that meds aren't the answer for eveybody. My pdoc even told me that bipolar symptoms can go into regression and sometimes no meds are needed for years on end.