Just on the subject of not medicating, specifically for bipolar disorder: in the case of bipolar disorder, medication is considered the only completely responsi

Just on the subject of not medicating, specifically for bipolar disorder: in the case of bipolar disorder, medication is considered the only completely responsible primary treatment, with anything else acting as a supplemental treatment. (Therapy simply won't prevent later episodes, lifestyle changes can only lower the chance, and are less reliable than medication.) Medication adherence is also a problem in bipolar patients because mania and hypomania are characterized by euphoria, delusions of grandeur, overconfidence, and a lot of other symptoms people find enjoyable in the moment. I'd echo the suggestion of educating yourself to the best of your ability. Most people from HN are pretty intelligent: learning about one disease and the treatments for it is not difficult to do at a basic level. Generally those who've spent years studying it (say, doctors) are going to know more and be able to better contextualize that information, but it helps to know what the evidence is for a particular treatment, if it's considered responsible, what side effects to expect, etc., as it helps you better evaluate the doctor and makes you aware of your options.