i have bipolar 2... when depression hits i just wait for it to get over... you know how it is ...you can predict you will be depressed in next few months,there are signs... slowly you are in worst depressive phase... i wait for about year without doing anything(not taking meds but i read novels,self help books,watch movies).... after that i know depression will be over in next few months... so i wait... then mania comes,i have lot of energy i try to compensate the damage depression did to my professional life...

so my depression lasts 3 years...of which one year is very bad... but hypomania/normal will be next 5 years... during depression these daily/weekly mood swings continue of course... i always decide not to get depressed,do exercise,eat healthy food... but haven't succeeded in it... but still i hope for it...