It was years. In part because they kept prescribing AD which cause mixed moods. And in part because the AP that works so well wasn’t invented until a dozen years ago. Back in the 80’s and 90’s they really didn’t know much about bipolar and I had PTSD as well, so they just threw the kitchen sink at me. In truth it was therapy that helped the PTSD not meds. Then when I got the PTSD under control it was easier to medicate the bipolar. The sheer number of meds I was on at times made things worse not better. I took a break from meds and concentrated on the PTSD. I’m a firm believer in the fewer the better.