I have a Master's degree and I always wanted to do a PhD, but I never pursued the doctorate route because my bipolar symptoms were too much to handle. I wasn't actually diagnosed as bipolar until *after* I finished my Master's, btw... so I didn't even know I was struggling with bipolar disorder until *after* the fact! (I think if I was able to get professional help, I probably would have gone the PhD route.)
That being said, I can offer you some *non-medical* advice that helped me get through graduate school.
- Learn your stressors and find ways to avoid them or cope with them.
- Develop a sleep routine. (Disrupted sleep can 100% exacerbate symptoms.)
- DON'T fight with people, no matter how much they anger you. (I fought with so many f***ing people, including my own lab PI and research associates in my lab. It created unnecessary tensions, which added insurmountable stress, which worsened my symptoms.)
- Make strong personal connections. You'd be surprised how much people are willing and able to help you in times of need. People are an important resource! I can't tell you how many times I was overwhelmed by my symptoms, and I was helped by other people. (I never actually told anyone I was bipolar, but I did tell them I was struggling with personal issues, and they were able to step in and help.)
- EXERCISE. Exercise helps alleviate stress, and it's a great coping mechanism for when your mood is wonky. Since you're at a university, take advantage of intramural sports or take a physical education class. It forces you to relieve stress, and it also helps you socialize more. (Socializing can really help when you're in a bad mood and you need to open up to someone.)