((HUGS)) APs are my favorite type of bipolar drug. I honestly think I'd be fine not being on any mood stabilizer and just take a good AP or two. Just my opinion, because they seem to make the most difference in my stability.

You deserve stability. Even if your mood swings are less intense and less frequent (they still might be there), you can feel SO much better with the proper care. Don't worry about debt.

Here's the question to ask yourself: Am I safe? Are you safe from harming yourself and others? Are you safe from causing yourself to lose your job or harm relationships due to your current situation? If your answer is no, but you're still distressed, I would try to get in to the pdoc earlier rather than go to the hospital.

As far as natural supplements go, I take NAC and Bee Pollen for my bipolar and OCD. They help a lot. The NAC helps with obsessive thoughts and the Bee Pollen helps when I feel hypomanic/agitated hypomania. The Bee Pollen levels hypomania out for me. Depression? I usually just have a lot more caffeine than usual and it helps my mood to lift some. Not that it's the healthiest thing to do, though.