getting my bsw in social work is what caused my downfall. triggered my ptsd and everything came flooding back to me, aggravating my bipolar and led to a major nervous breakdown. hospitalized against my will. the antidepressant worked right away but it took another 2 1/2 years to stabilize the bipolar. at one time i was on six meds. i must have gone thru nearly every med there was and had every side effect too. in a particularly bad manic episode my pdoc snowed me on haldol to knock it down. it worked so well he left me on it. i eventually quit taking the antidepressant and antianxiety and was left with just the haldol and no signs of crazy but it was hell getting here. but i am glad i never gave up.