Your friend is right. Remission can/does come for many people, despite drug resistant years. It did for me.

I have bipolar disorder type 1. Though I had my fair share of pure depressions over my lifetime, mania and mixed states were my most stubborn episodes. Even they eased then stopped. It took more than just the right medications, though. Thinking meds should do 100% of the job is a ticket to short, if any, remission in my view.

For a while, not being in some sort of bipolar episode felt a little strange. Not my life's "norm". But a new norm developed and I'm mostly at peace with my slower less extreme mind. I'm still me, but an older me that's seen and done a lot!

One mistake I think many make when in remission is to think, in a way, that they are "cured" of the disorder. That is a slippery slope to walk on and counter to how this lousy disorder works for most.