I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal.

Be sure to make sure that your loved ones know about your intentions to discontinue medication, and they can help watch out for symptoms. Although you are choosing not to medicate, I would still see a p-doc.

For what it's worth- I was afraid to take lithium when I went inpatient and got Depakote instead. Depakote did a great job in stabilizing me for almost two years.