One of the things I've learned is that medication alone is not enough and can even impede progress in the long-term. It's effective in treating acute episodes and getting things stable again and I'd advise leaning on it for support as you adjust, build new habits, and learn ways to cope with stress. Eventually you can try to get off the meds with the worst side effects after making a detailed evaluation of your personal needs (there's no one size fits all solution).

There are, however, some basics which can be very effective in maintaining stability. Getting enough sleep is very important, especially going to sleep and waking up at the same times on a regular basis. A healthy whole foods diet (no refined sugars, gluten), such as brown rice, vegatables, fresh fruit, nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews), and lean protein sources. If your doctor doesn't object, exercise at least three times a week for longer than thirty minutes. I at least go for a walk everyday. Abstaining from caffeine consumption is almost always beneficial as it can induce mania. If you've developed a dependance on caffeine (which is likely to occur if ingesting 400mg or more per day, about four 8oz cups of coffee) then removing it can be difficult.

There are also supplements which may be able to reduce ones need for psychotropics, such as Sensoril (a standardized ashwagandha root extract), L-Theanine (Suntheanine), elemental magnesium, n-acytlcysteine, and adding vitamin supplements based upon which medications you're on, how much stress you're under, and if you're experiencing an episode. People have different needs, but typically have few if any side effects to these supplements.

Consult your pdoc about using them as adjunctive treatments. If he doesn't know enough ask him to look into them, or to provide a referal to someone who is familiar with their use. These supplements can interact strongly with psychotropics and taking too high a dosage can lead to toxicity (which is usually well beyond a therapeutic dosage). It's important to have someone who understands what's going and can provide sound advise before adding additional pharmacological agents to any treatment regiment.

Most of what I recommend is stuff that normal people would benefit from a great deal and any MD would readily endorse. For people with bipolar the benefits are often much more pronounced, and so to are the consequences of ignoring the basics of self-care.