Doing this PhD thing with Bipolar (mixed episodes and rapid cycling) sucks. I have been on and off so many meds that it's affecting my performance in school. I made it through my Masters; but I am not sure if I can make it through my PhD. I am going to try to adjust meds over the break. Currently, we took care of the mania (hypomania typically and mania is NOT the problem), but I am abusing caffeine to deal with the depression.

At what point do you step away and try to take care of yourself? I love teaching the undergrads but I am not being challenged and I find the coursework to simply be busywork. I am thinking about working for a few years and returning later, yet I am not sure if I can get back into a PhD program after leaving under these circumstances.