My diagnosis preceded any medication. I was in a depression so deep I tried to drink myself to death and when I failed I was distraught then never told anyone about it. I came out of that to a mild depression then swung super high spending money I didn't have on stupid things, had the most creative time of my life, was obsessed with the possible science of time travel and never sleeping which led to agitation, thoughts too fast to keep track of and thoughts of suicide again. I decided I needed help this year when I was seriously considering and planning on jumping into oncoming traffic. I'd never been on meds before or even been to a psychiatrist or therapist. I'm currently switching from Zyprexa to Geodon because I was gaining weight and tired on Zyprexa. Geodon so far is having my mind running like a well oiled machine it's pretty amazing. I've never felt so normal. Now I hope it doesn't cause weight gain.
But I have a good pdoc who won't put me on high doses, and listens when I say I don't like something. I dread needing to find a new one when I graduate because not all pdocs are so great... Furthermore there are several people in my family with mental illnesses who refuse and have never taken medication but destroy everything around them wih their paranoia and mood swings, and I refuse to do the same.