As you probably already know, bipolar is all over the map. There is even a blurred line between Bipolar w/psychosis and schizo affective. And there is Dysphoric mania too. Along with rapid cyclers and ultra rapid cyclers. To complicate things even more, every one reacts different to different meds. I'm sorry but that is just how it is. It can take years to find the right combo that even sort of works and then it stops working!

I am bipolar 1 with psychosis. I can have mixed states and go thru a period of rapid cycling. I can also stay depressed for months, and even stay at my baseline for several months at a time! Speaking of "baseline", every one has a different baseline, it's simply our most steady or stable state. My baseline can be totally different then another person's baseline.

I am also highly functional, and can hold jobs for years at a time. See, we are all over the map and there just are not any rules