I remember years ago before I had Dx with Bipolar II, I was still being treated with major depressive disorder. I had a therapist convince me that I didn't need to be on medication. She kept saying the medication needed to be temporary and I needed to find other ways to deal with things. By that time I had been on medication for a number of years. My pdoc said it was my choice, but did express concern that I not go off the meds. So I went off the meds. Initially, it seemed okay. However, within a couple months I was in a bad way. The pdoc put me back on meds and I vastly improved. The therapist shrugged and was like, "oh, I guess you do have chemical imbalance issue" or something to that affect, acknowledging that I had a chronic issue and medication was necessary. Needless to say, I stopped seeing that therapist.

Even now I think about wanting to go off meds either because I am feeling okay or I don't think they are working anyway. I just generally think they are probably a necessary part of life.