How long can depression last with BP II? I've been depressed for a year even after trying a lot of different meds. I classically fit BP II except my hypomania only comes for brief period - like a day or two then it's back to the black depression.

I read the depressive period usually lasts months at most.

Was I miss-diagnosed or just treatment resistant? Or may it be normal for me to have an extremely long depressive cycle?

I've been depressed off and on all my life but nothing like this.

Tegretol took me out of it briefly but it's coming back and I'm having side effects from the medication.

Any thoughts?