[tc2012]

I don't know for sure if a manic episode caused my son to stop taking Depikote, or if stopping Depikote caused a severe manic episode. I think it was the latter. However, this has been going on for 3 weeks. How long can this last? What will happen when this ends and he has quit his job and ended his relationship? (that was already very stressful and unhappy) Could these decisons be rational even though they were made during the hyper, entergetic, hectic insomniac period?

I am just trying to understand. It's never been this bad.

Thank you!

[usbusi]

Oftentimes the end of the manic high will result in a drop into a severe depression. This was only the case for one of three episodes I had though, although I was hospitalized for the last two (and as a result medicated on the way out of the manic episode, which might have prevented the depression.)

Regarding how long will it last: blogs.psychcentral.com/bipolar/2008/10/how-long-can-a-manic-episode-last/. My first one only lasted one week I think.

[wildchild r]

Depikote caused a major climax in my manic episodes.. had to change meds..but if it goes untreated there will be consequences,,just got to find the right meds

[BlackPup]

Like ubasi said meds can blunt the rebound depression that can occur after mania. Rebound depressions suck especially if you have regrets from when you were up.
Hope you can get him to get the help he needs. Maybe encourage him to go inpatient if needed.

[faerie_moon_x]

I agree with the others, and I agree you should get him into his pdoc or T since you've said it's already three weeks.

As for the relationship, you said it was already stressful and unhappy. So even if it was a "manic" decision to end it, that possibly was a correct desicion. Stressful and unhappy relationships can trigger both mania and depression.

As for the job, well, I quit multiple jobs during mania. The longest job I held previouly (and this was before diagnosis,) was six months. My current job I've held for five years now, and even in manic and mixed moments I have been able to keep myself from quitting randomly, which hasn't been easy. But I have other driving factors as well at this time.

What happened for me as a consequence of "job hopping," as people call it, is it made it much harder for me to get a job. Even retail and fast food jobs get nervous when they see you have only been one to two months at ever previous job, then have big holes in your job history as well.

And every time, I thought I had a perfectly logical explanation to why quitting was a smart move.

But, I have to say that it's not the end of the world. Life does go on.