My wife has the same reluctance to take medication, especially daily, and to talk to someone about her condition. But think of it this way:

If you had epilepsy, you wouldn't hesitate to take anti-seizure medication every single day because you'd know it was needed to manage your illness and to prevent you from damaging yourself or anyone around you.

If you have bipolar disorder - or depression, or any other mental illness - the reasons are exactly the same. Exactly the same. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder. So is bipolar disorder. Both can be managed with medication. Despite side effects, the meds make your life better than it would be without them.

You sound intelligent and thorough. I think you've already answered most of your questions yourself. You know that something isn't quite right in your mind, that you should get some help, and that the help will likely involve some sort of medication. Go with what your head knows is true. Get the help you need from a professional, and then let us know how it goes. You'll do great.