To be honest, I don't know anyone who has, but if I were to try, here is what I would do:

1) See a therapist even if all I do there is whine and complain about how bad I feel. If my insurance covers it, I would try several different types of therapy - talk, group, cognitive behavioral (CBT), biofeedback - whatever I could get my hands on. Group was very helpful to me last time I was depressed.

2) Regulate my sleep cycle, somehow. Maybe my spouse, boyfriend, parent, dog could help me sleep the 8-10 hours recommended for people with BP, AND NO MORE!

2) Ask friends and family to act as coaches to a) Exercise with me  b) Help me eat better c) Help me learn and get into the habit of meditating -- meditation has been found to help beat stress and soothe the mind d) Help get involved in everything and everything I ever enjoyed - sports, crafts, entertainment, religious organization/activities (prayer, just like meditation - another mind-soothing activity), ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that might spark my old self, or new self, into enjoying life again. The last time I was depressed my mother suggested I take a creative writing workshop. I found one that's very supportive, not competitive and I go for the company just as much as for the writing because the class tends to be full of people I get along with.

3) Keep a gratitude list, which means every day I write down 10 things to be grateful for - being able to walk, see, the sun coming in and shining on my pretty bedspread, etc. When I start to be able to appreciate the small things, that's when they start to add up to big things.

4) I would try to remember that nothing stays the same, that moods and state-of-minds are by definition transient.

I sure wish I would follow this plan with/without medication! It really means building a group of people around you who will be there when you need them, which also means when you are well you have to be there for them. Also, I have to say that I could see someone trying all of this and still not feeling better. For the lucky few who have enough support around them and the right chemistry for this plan to work, more power to them, but wer're all different. For some talk therapy alone is effective, others need meeds while some need ECT, others exercise. Above all, it is a terrible loss to stay depressed.

My husband takes Depakote everyday.  When he does go into an extreme LOW, he doesn't change his meds or take more, he just stays the course.  I can usually see the LOW coming and prepare him for it by telling him he will be crashing in a few days.  Knowing your cycles or having a family member know you inside and out is his key to getting through it.  Reminding him that, "this too shall pass" is helpful.  I try to get him to either clear his mind as best he can and rest for a few days and eat higher protein food with Omega 3 fatty acids.  It seems to help get him out of it quicker.  Quiet surroundings and spending extra time with the pets help.  With 4 kids in the house, it can be a little difficult to give him quiet but they are aware of what is going on and will sometimes go for a sleepover at grandparents houses and I try to be his cheerleader.  Other times if I feel he isn't trying to overcome the feelings of despair, I will tell him quite frankly to, "Snap the Fuqk out of it already!"  I too can only take so much and when he realises I have reached my own breaking point he will do his best to bring himself back on course.