For me I found there were years that I hit rock bottom and it took at least a year or two to get back to some kind of normality. I never seemed to fully regain what I had lost. The crashes seemed to get bigger and bigger until the last one that has left me unable to function in the real world.

Each person's journey is different. Learning to know what is right for you and what is helpful is a big start. It also depends on the illness and the persons character.

It's kind of like walking on an emotionally broken bone. You get most of your strength back but there will always be a sense of vulnerability/weakness. We need to look after ourselves.