Hello! I'm sorry about your diagnosis. The upshot is that you can now learn about how to be as healthy as possible when you've got this condition.

It is very strange that you doctor gave you a diagnosis of BD1 when you have never experienced a full-blown manic episode. A manic episode is the major requirement. A hypomanic episode that lasts longer than average is still a hypomanic episode and doesn't fulfill that requirement. Perhaps you're Bipolar II and have been misdiagnosed.

It is generally very difficult to become stable without medication. I have BP1 with psychotic features and can currently function on very low doses of medication, but that's because I maintain a very strict schedule and learned other coping mechanisms while I was more heavily medicated. I can't go entirely without medication, and I'm prepared to go back on heavier meds when I get sick again.

It might be useful to go on medication while you attempt to become more stable and then decrease the dosage once you're no longer experiencing episodes on a regular basis.

As for sex drive... my partners complained about my lack of interest in sex when I wasn't medicated, because I spent so much of my time feeling too depressed to be intimate. I can't remember if any of the meds I've taken actually reduced my sex drive. I don't think they did. In fact, Lamictal sent it through the roof. I think increased libido is listed as a possible side-effect.