Can you recover without meds? Do you get off them?

I was on antidepressants for 20 years, since I was 13 years old. After years of wanting to go off of them and a few subpar therapists, I finally found a good one. She supported my decision to stop them if that is what I chose. She suggested I discuss it with the psychiatrist of course but said that ultimately no one could force me to take them. So I stopped. And it has been one of the best decisions I ever made. My mind is much clearer and therapy has given me the tools to handle my big reactions. Since stopping them, my s****** ideation has been minimal. I feel like a human with a full range of emotion, not just depression, deeper depression, mania, and rage.
I honestly never thought I'd even be able to be okay, let alone actually content and happy. I feel alive for the first time in years. This is just my personal experience and I'm not trying to give any mental health advice. I just want people to know that there is hope.

/r/BPDrecovery Thread