You should be alright. It is extremely common for people with BP to try to self-medicate. If any professional is ever shocked to find out that someone with bipolar disorder has been smoking weed, then they probably need to turn in their degree lmao.

However I do think it's important to trade it in when you start proper medication. For me self-medicating has been necessary over the years to try to remain stable without health insurance. But the way it works such as the case with weed, is that it provides temporary, instant relief.. but over time it comes back to bite you in the butt with increased systems.

Take it from me, please, I smoked every day for about 3 years straight and then suddenly I could not smoke anymore without having a massive panic attack, my anxiety and paranoia was through the roof. It started triggering psychotic symptoms really bad. I had to completely give it up and then I felt totally lost and started drinking a lot to try to replace it. Seriously sucked.

But professionals who know what the hell they are doing when it comes to BP understand how this works, how and why we are often so tempted to self-medicate. It is extremely common.

It is SO common that if being found to have weed in your system at the hospital barred people from receiving help, then over half of people with bipolar disorder receiving help would have been cut off by now and there likely would have been a huuuuuge deal about it in the news.

But again, once you are able to start trying proper medication, I think it's important to trade it in, meaning you quit self-medicating in exchange for some actual medication.