I was pretty resistant to the idea of meds for far too long. I didn't realize how bad I was and thought that I could handle this myself. Meds have alleviated years of suffering, I do have concerns about side effects and want to minimize them but see it as a small price to pay for much a much improved mental state.

There are side effects to untreated mental illness, I've experienced many of them. Suicide is another serious side effect, a permanent one.

To each their own choice. For me, I've spent years on the unmedicated side and meds brought me to a better place than I've been in a very long time.