Bipolar disorder is characterized by a cycling from depression to mania, and back again over time (hence the reason it used to be called manic depression, because it includes both mania and depression). One of the commonly asked questions we get here is, “How long does a typical bipolar episode last?”
The answer has traditionally been, “Well, it varies considerably from person to person. Some may have rapid cycling bipolar disorder where that person can cycle back and forth between depression and mania in the course of a day or multiple times a week. Others may be stuck in one mood or the other for weeks or months at a time.”
New research (Solomon et al., 2010) published in The Archives of General Psychiatry sheds a little more empirical light onto this question.
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Site last updated: 19 Jun 2013
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Bipolar disorder is separated into various types. There are many symptoms of bipolar disorder. The symptoms include extreme, sadness, change in appetite, anxiety, guilt, fatigue, irritation, etc. People suffering from bipolar disorder change their mood drastically. People suffering from this disorder should consult a health professional immediately.
Being a sufferer of Bipolar I would hate to put my faith on a study of ONLY 219 people. There are over 2 million people in the USA alone with bipolar. There is such a vast range in the changes and severity of this mood disorder. The ‘there you have it comment’ in this article obviously comes from someone who seems to have never suffered from this debilitating illness and has little idea of how terrible these mood swings can be and how they can almost destroy a bipolar persons ability to work and maintain friendships.
I have a law degree and run my own company but my biggest challenge is constantly trying to maintain myself in a mental state well enough to work.
generalizing on one study based on 219 people for an illness that affects millions seems a little short sighted.
I wonder if they would draw conclusions so quickly if the disease were cancer…instead of mental health…..and where the patients can’t check so carefully? and the public eye isn’t on the results so quickly?
After watching my ex and my son slip into their first manic episode… I am terrified and distraught. The hospitalizations, cries for help, loss of all reality, it is enough to make someone without the disorder go crazy or into deep depression, it is sooooo hard to watch someone you love never recover because they don’t believe in the disease and then not be able to nurture a child while they are being bullied around in a hospital calling you for help in complete fear of what is happening to them…. so when someone comes on these sites and asks these questions.. us anticipating mothers, wifes etc… would like to hear some type of hope of recovery and normality and how you got it and how long it took… not depicting our lack of experience!!! Trudie… how did you get through it, what do you do to maintain, how long did it take, did you ever slip into like a physchosis, does it ever go away with medication… what should I expect, what is your experience, your obviously educated and successful, I’m sorry for your lack of friendship but as a mother I want to know how to help my son have some type of happiness… I am so scared of what I saw happen to my ex, and now I have the ability to help a teenage boy accept this disease, what positive advice and experience do you have… don’t leave us hopeless!!
To Mom……I have ended my 9 year relationship with a man I thought would stop his phed use and alcohol. He doesnt feel anything is wrong with him. But in the next breath he tells me what i want to hear. “such as-Im checking myself in to get cleaned up and get diagnosed properly” within a week or two everything is my fault..anything! Constant turning of a table to point at me and pathological lying. Im done . i feel that i lost my mind from him. I cannot carry on any kind of converstion with him without repeating himself over and over. Accuse non stop . I blocked cell phone…emails..my house line answer machine is shut off to save my sanity.
Is THIS bi polar? he has gotten worse over last 4 years..far worse. he may only stay sane 1 week…maybe.
Trudie, I don’t think he means to trivialize bipolar sufferers – no psychologist with normal feelings could have bipolar patients and fail to understand how devastating the disorder is, how much extreme suffering it causes. And actually, I learned in statistics class that you can have quite a small sample and get very accurate results, but the problem is that the sample has to be random, and that’s awfully hard to achieve in the real world.
Are all these subjects untreated? What about the effects of meds? Or other factors? This seems awfully fake to me.
That’s why they publish the study…questions regarding subject selection, medications, etc are all there. It’s ok to criticize the study but not before you’ve read it because the criticism is then based on emotions and ignorance, rather than rationality and fact.
I did look at the study. I assumed that I wouldn’t be able to access it, but low and be hold I could. I see the information they had on the treatment. However, it still does not answer my question about what effect the meds might have. Even the researchers acknowledged in the Limitations section that the study was uncontrolled. Not to mention stressful life events, genetics, compliance with treatment,etc.
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Thus 13 weeks seems like a pretty arbitrary and artificial number.
lol…the average cycle of *13 weeks*. what a lucky number at that! did anyone else notice that that’s about the length of each season? it seems seasonal. which makes sense, with some theories that people with bipolar are more sensitive to light than others. i think it’s all hooey. we’re born the way that we are, how can you say something is wrong with you just because you’re different. whatever happened to acceptance and an open mind and making the best of what you have? there is the view that medication is used to get people to conform to societies’ norms (how can you possibly tell people how to live anyway??). the view of “mental illness” is dependent upon predominant society. why is it that the united states and other developed nations have the highest rates of mental illness? seriously, what are people doing with their lives and time??? this?!
another view is that it’s just difference in personality types. these types of people who study people, the same types who are doctors, psychiatrists, etc. who are in “power” – because they’re the ones who created government, laws, etc., say something is “wrong” with the other types of people, and trying to get them to “convert” – haha! how can you say something is wrong with different people?! it could be that something is wrong with them! or, rather, nothing is wrong with anyone. we just need to learn to understand each other better, and communicate better, not change each other – isn’t that a given?
oh wait, they think they’re “helping” the other people, by helping them to be more like them – what a perfect rationalization. the world is orderly, everything has to fit in it’s box, be categorized, labeled, etc. god forbid we think differently!
and the whole view of medication as the answer – ha! maybe it is something as simple as they aren’t doing well with the way society is, and it isn’t them that should change, maybe it’s society that should change? or, it’s something as simple as diet/nutrition, such as theories about it being a lack of trace minerals, etc.
how could we ever know? and aren’t people so arrogant to think they could know?
lol
i know my comment makes me seem like a “crazy” conspiracy-theorist person, but i just have to go off sometimes. i have explored the way the “other side” thinks. it seems limited. it’s just one particular worldview. how can you say who’s right?
Bipolar is a real disorder. Your comment is the epitome of ignorance and that sort of thought process is the reason why people who suffer are discriminated against and are often too afraid to seek treatment. It’s not “thinking differently,” it’s having absolutely no control over the roller coaster that is a mental illness. Maybe you should do some research before you go around making ignorant comments such as this one. Bipolar is a disorder, not a personality trait.
You may be right! BUT I know way too many that have been abusing cocaine, prescrip drugs from Psychiatrists, pheds, alcohol and so on.
UNLESS they stop this, there is no accurate test that can say for sure if its bi polar? or the effects of substance abuse long term.
AND they would most defintely need to sign in to rehab first…then can get properly diagnosed and then be able to see the effects of meds.
Way too many in our culture abusing drugs. And WILL NOT believe there is anything wrong with them.
I cant have that insanity in my life anylonger. Im done…and you cannot MAKE them get treatment. They must BELIEVE they have a big fat problem.
The statement that there is more mental illness in developed countries than in underdeveloped countries is based on a fallacy. Underdeveloped countries don’t have the resources (mental health practitioners) to diagnose and treat mental illness. Mental illness is present in all countries, probably at the same rate.
This is certainly an ignorant response, but there are some small shards that may be true.
- I agree that people with differences in mental health would benefit from acceptance. I didn’t seek help for depression for way too long because I didn’t want to be “crazy.” Also, when I was growing up with ADHD, I wished people would respect some aspects of the disease without thinking of it as a “symptom.” Being able to rapidly associate concepts is a huge strength, even if it is often a distraction.
- I agree that a percentage of the population may be self-diagnosing or looking for easy answers. However, this is true in every branch of medicine. Whether a hypochondriac thinks they have Lupus or thinks they have OCD, it is no reflection on the mental health profession as a whole. A depressed person has a responsibility to do the hard work for their own recovery (therapy, cognitive behavior changes, etc) whether on medication or not.
- Underdeveloped countries also have a lower diagnostic rate of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, osteoporosis, etc, etc, etc. This is, in most cases, due to their medical care also being underdeveloped. Nobody was diagnosed as having a heart attack in the 1500s. Does that mean nobody had one?
I’m not a poster child for mood disorders. Stay away from stress, people using undue influence to get their hands on your money and assets, siblings telling the police you’re trying to kill them when you’re 2,100 miles away and take your medication. You can live and thrive in the real world as long as your family and friends give you just a little respect for owning your own home and having a little money. Use your brain. It will let you know when to take a brake.
Hi,
My husband has Bipolar..right now he is going through hyper , i don’t have insurance and don’t know how to treat him plz help
Have him eat a lot of chicken and drink pineapple juice. Find a clinic for low income families.
Not sure if I have Bipolar or not but seems like I fall into a depressed or anxiety state every 8 weeks or so. The length of down time is always diffrent but just about all I can do to maintain being alive. I tried all sorts of meds in many combinations and what I have found that works best is. Hiking hard about 3 to 5 miles and biking hard for the same. I changed my diet to an almost raw one where I only eat white fish orsalmon. Lots of nuts fresh organic fruits and vegies. Cooked vegies atno more than 105 degrees which maintains the natural enzymes. A must have is L-Tyrosene an amino acid which is the precurser to trytophan. Have 1500 mg. per day and it will work miracles. I takes time to work depending how toxic you eat but a mood elevator. When I start to feel my mind head down the deppressed or anious hought mode, I do my A,B,Cs. I pick a topic and name them starting witht A to Z. about 1/3rd of the way through I have diverted my stinking thinking. Try these things, Try these things they helped me alot.
thank you for your response in advance
My father suffered from bipolar disorder. His father committed suicide, and two of my second cousins committed suicide (niece and nephew to my grandfather, two different families). While there are indeed situational things that lead to feelings of depression, that is not always the case, or can be a trigger to a depressive episode.
I’ve suffered from depression, although my doctor thinks it is mostly situational with a life-threatening illness and surgery, loss of a parent and both parents-in-law, home, job, and marriage all within a few years. I do, however, live with the fear that some day, bipolar will rear its ugly head in my brain. Today is one of those days. Was feeling manic a few days ago and sunk into depression yesterday. Again, perhaps situational.
Tyliseea – while many drugs are over-prescribed, yes, they help many people who need them. Do you really honestly think that people would CHOOSE to be depressed? You have no understanding of the devastation or the isolation it causes.
Please educate yourself from multiple sources. Perhaps volunteer at a crisis center or suicide hotline. And develop some compassion. Please.
Well, I understand the confusion normal people have dealing with bipolar. However I believe my girl friend has pmdd and bipolar. For the last ten years we’ve been off and on with break ups and make ups. When I tried to walk away it was to late she was with child. Now seven years later things appear to be the same. I afraid if I leave her completely she would come back with guilt. Help what should I do?
Jay I am offended at your use of the term “normal” to describe people who do not have bipolar disorder, but I don’t think you meant it in a negative way. Your confusion might be based on ignorance of mental illness in general. I have suffered from bipolar for two decades. I am also an accomplished educator and lead what most would consider a “normal” life. I would suggest doing more research on mental illness in general and speaking individually with a therapist about your issues dealing with your gf’s illness. It is difficult for loved ones. I have had many failed relationships and broken friendships because some people do not understand that when you have an episode you really don’t have total control of your emotions or behaviors. I hope you can get professional guidance, because I absolutely agree that bipolar can be devestating to those who have it and the people in their lives. It sounds like you have her best interest in mind, but you are right in that you need to take care of your own mental health too! Even if you are “normal”, lol. Good luck.
These are all extravagant statements, which are good not bad, I really can’t make comments in regards to the extreme that you all have. I am Bipolar 1, and have gone through states of mania for months at a time, I am currently in a state of depression now going on 11 months with medication and access to a healthy life style. My heart goes out to all with this illness, please be well all.
Hey mike,i am in a relationahip with a man with bipolar disorder and over months he has had times of depressed state and points he gets very angry,and right now is the worst.he has been very distant i feel as if he is avoidong me like he doesnt want to be with me anymore i get worried but there are also times hes loving,hes mot on any medication by the way.i love him with all my heart please help how long do episodes last?and is it normal for him to be distant amd avoid me?
I’ve suspected my wife was bi polar/manic maybe someone can conferm, simptoms,feeing empty, unhappy not nowing why,wanting to run(she has movrd out blaming me for the crappy 18 years)wanting to quit her job all of a sudden, feeling she can’t get anything done around the house etc, can anyone tell me if this is bipolar disorder, or just an unhappy wife,,,,,,,thanks
Your wife sounds like she may have borderline personality disorder. How long has she been having problems?
Can a person who has had bouts of mild depression for years suddenly have their first manic episode. Depression has always been mild but the last one was VERY severe, lasted two months. There followed a few weeks of ‘normal’ then an ugly episode that I had never seen before and a gentle, humble man became vain, arrogant, boastful and hardly slept for three weeks before walking out on his family 5 days ago first with ugly fanfare and bravado, then with smug, ‘I’m the smartest guy I know’ attitude. He has also created some fantastic fabrications and overembellishes and stretches the truth incredibly – is that typical? I have never seen a glimmer of this in all my years with him.
So sorry you have to have this happen to your family. Yes, i think your husband is going through a Manic episode in the bi polar realm. If you look it up on this site about the disease you will find information all about it. He really needs to get on medication fast. Hope he can get the help he needs and your family back together again. I was hypomanic my whole life until 9 years ago I went into a bad depression went on meds and stayed great until this year and I am in the depression again. I am getting treatment but so far not working at it’s best but I am getting better and hopefully with a change in meds I will be better completely. I will send good thoughts and the light of the world your way for help.
How dare you say Bipolar I is more serious than Bipolar II… I think each are equally life threatening and life destroying if untreated and not managed… Neither is more serious than the other. Your ignorance is sad. As a person with Bipolar I have experienced HORRIBLE MANIA and just as HORRIBLE DEPRESSION neither was less serious. LEARN YOUR FACTS!
What medications have worked for any of you with bi polar without side effects. I have been on Seroquel and Trileptal for 7 years and now I have relapsed and they don’t seem to be working. My relaspe is can’t eat and can’t sleep. Upped serowquel has helped with sleep but upped Trileptal is not working. I am not my normal self at all. Can’t do anything I used to and getting harder to live each day. Any help out there?
Any one out there been on Depakote. My doc changed my Trileptal to Depakote and I am still on the seroquel and ativan to get me through the days. I am afraid of the side effects on the Depakote and wondering if any one of you have been on it and what has been your experience. Any help I will be so gratfull. Thanks,
I find a lot of the comments from the one’s who suffer from bipolar disorder very helpful. I would really like for someone to share how long their manic episode typically lasts?
My ex was hospitalized and diagnosed in Sept 2012 with type I bipolar disorder. He is still currently in his manic episode and has been in and out of the hospital about 4 times since then. He only takes medication while he is hospitalized and once he’s out refuses. Hes in denial and feels there’s nothing wrong with him. He blames his family for when he’s hospitalized and tries to smoke marijuana because he feels it calms him. He doesn’t realize each time he does he puts himself in life threatening situations which forces him back in the hospital. He’s lost everything financially.
He has been reaching out to me for help. I am trying to help him along with his family to encourage him to volunteer to get treatment and to talk to a professional how he’s feeling. I also encourage him to stay away from marijuana. It’s been a struggle the last 3 months, because he is easily agitated and goes into rages.
If there is anyone who suffers from bipolar disorder who can offer some positive advice for us on how to help him. Please respond. I have read several books, but have found it more helpful learning from someone who is actually suffering from it themselves. Myself and his family have never been through this before.
Is an episode this long typical? How can we tell if he is naturally coming out of an episode??
my daughter is having an episode and it is very scary for her and all of the family.i always have the fear that she wont come back as she was before .she stopped taking her meds which brings on an episode i dont think it was intentional.
Hi my name is taylor. I am 20 years old . I toold mutiple numbers for medcaition all through highschool for bipolar and adhd. I stopped my seinor year in 2011 . Thinking I’d be okay and normail again all was good untill about untill now . I’ve been suffering from numbness of my body. Loss of consusness and not knowing where I am . And causes mutiple axiety attacks. I wish I would have never stopped taking my meds. I now I have a phobia of taking meds from the ill feeling I get everyday . I can’t do anything about it. It sucks . I’ve been suffering for about 7 months now . And it won’t ease up.
I’m trying to figure out if my daughter is bipolar. She is 21 she has always had a temper and thought she new everything. It started little over 2 years ago she packed one day and left went to her boyfriends at the time told him I kicked her out. She told lts of crazy lies then but she had no where to go so after 3 weeks I had her back home. She always talked about something was wrong with her but as a mom didnt want to believe there was. Well 11 months ago she started having all these crazy pains I would carry her to doctor but nothing was ever wrong. Then I found out she was telling things like she was in Walmart a guy came up and pulled her dress up, once she was driving and when she got home she told how her x boyfriends friend hit her and ran her off the road. Then I saw where she told her boyfriend that she was raped and was pretending on a app to be the rapiest. I know this sounds crazy. I told the guy to stay away from my daughter still not admitting something was wrong. She got up one morning left with nothing moved in with this guy and just married him but for the past 11 months will not speak to a family member or me. She has told so much that wasn’t true and never happened. Everything I read Akers me believe she is bipolar. I don’t know what to do. Also when she was home she had been on citalopram for a year a half and stopped it the day she left. She was on it to control angry. I guess I just want to hear does it sound like she is bipolar and when will she come back to reality. I’m her mom i have been where she lives but she acts like not home the guys cusses me. If she sees me anywhere she runs as well as anyone that’s been in her life for the past 20 years
Please help.
I am a 21 year old woman and I am going to have a doctor’s appointment to talk about my mental health on June 11th, but please please explain something to me.
Throughout all of my teenage years, I felt hopeless, had anxiety attacks, felt guilty, felt lonely, awkward, stupid, fat, I couldn’t drive because I was afraid to fail and kill someone (I had so many irrational thoughts and fears) wanted to kill myself, attempted suicide by strangling myself and standing in the middle of the road (but while only performing these acts for a few minutes, I decided life wasn’t meant to end in that fashion) These would come and go in spurts, sometimes months or almost years apart, however, they would always reoccur and would hit me harder, and harder, and harder.
Last summer I had a terrible break down while I was dating a young man who hurt me so terribly…told me I was crazy, hurt my self-esteem even more by saying other women were prettier than me, would never want sex but masturbate to who knows what, promised to marry me and love me, but never kept his promise, and tried to change the person I was…
he told everyone I was crazy, had me believing that my parents were awful, and so many more terrible things that I cannot post here.
I threatened suicide so many times. I finally saw a counselor, but she did not prescribe any medication. When I broke up with the jerk, it was hard but I felt so much better within two-three months or so.
Since then, I feel beautiful, confident, strong, worthwhile, successful (I got a job and was soon promoted at local YMCA in the children’s department), and happier than ever…I finally see things on the positive side, I don’t think suicidal thoughts ever, and when I do feel irritable or stressed, I go for long walks and clear my mind and feel so much better. I rarely cry, if I do, it’s for someone else who is suffering. I feel so happy…it’s hard to explain: it’s like a whole different person, and I honestly like who I am. I love my life, even the sad and unfortunate parts (which I won’t express here, too long!)
But then I realized that bipolar II runs in my family on both my mother and father’s side, and now, I am so worried…am I having a manic episode and when I relapse into my depression, will I hurt myself for real? What will happen to me and what can I do? How long does a manic period last? Please help…I don’t want this happiness to turn out to be a phase and just slip away into my darkness again…I have been down that road and I never want to look back!
In fact, I want to help others! I have even thought about getting a career in therapy and helping young children and youths with depression.
Please, help me figure this all out.