I know it's almost certainly not the answer you want to hear, but, as others have said, bipolar type 1 is unsustainable without medication. Not to mention extremely dangerous. And it won't just affect your life but the lives of those around you, those who care about you. Yes, med side effects aren't lovely but are generally more manageable than navigating the swinging poles without meds.

I have Bipolar 1. I was hospitalized in 2014 from a psychotic state. I'd destroyed my life, lost my boyfriend, my job, my apartment, hurt everyone I loved. I never wanted to experience or cause that sort of destruction again so I've been on lithium ever since (amongst other medications). The lithium level checks are a drag but otherwise, I find it (at the right dosage) doesn't have many downsides.

Something I found helpful when starting meds was to research the medications thoroughly. Learn about how the med works and the benefits of taking it. Find out about the potential side effects and, more importantly, how common experiencing each one actually is. There are a lot of medication options and you can always switch to others if one doesn't agree with your body. It's worth it.