[Keegan2015]

No matter how much research I do I can't get a solid answer for the "standard" length of manic / depressive episodes. I know that this varies from person to person, but I've read everything from 1-2 weeks to 4-6 months. Personally, my episodes last about 3 months at a time. I'm much better at recognizing when I'm experiencing mania than I am at recognizing depression.

So what's the answer for YOU? Also, do you have trouble identifying when you're experiencing a manic or depressive episode?

[CopperStar]

My episodes tend to progress in a very gradual, insidious way, so the episodes themselves tend to last for quite a while, several months, but the period at which they peak and are severe is usually only weeks to a month long.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Mostly mine are a week or so but depressed last up to a month. I get mixed too.

More than likely I gave rapid cycling.

[raspberrytorte]

Depression three to six months. Up week to three months.

[LettinG0]

Depression, sometimes several months

Hypomanic - usually a couple months

I NEVER EVER recognize hypo until after the fact....

[fishin fool]

Depression will last for months.
Mania seems to build up quickly and last
only short periods of time sometimes only
a couple of days sometimes a lot longer.
The depression always far outlasts the hypo.
At least I feel like it does. LOL

[emptyspace]

Mania = a few weeks and then I usually get in trouble for various things like yelling off bridges, climbing things, etc.
Depression = months.

The depression seems harder to treat.
I have a hard time recognizing mania. People tell me things they notice but I don't believe them (like I am talking too fast or not sleeping or spending too much money, etc).
Since I miss the signs, I usually get totally off the deep end until I am "stopped."
With mania, they throw me in inpatient, give me some high dosages of meds and I am out in a week or so.
Depression just lingers.. it sucks... even if they throw me in inpatient, it still takes months to get better.

[BPgf]

This is a subject that intrigues me as well. And you're right, different websites and studies are just as varied in "average" length as the diagnosed themselves. And when you ask "what was your LONGEST either high or low" you get even more variation. Anybody else have highs that last 6 or more months? (Not to hijack the original question. Haha)

[BPgf]

Keegan, when you say your episodes last "3 months at a time" do you mean mania and depression combined, or 3 months for each?

[emptyspace]

Originally Posted by BPgf

This is a subject that intrigues me as well. And you're right, different websites and studies are just as varied in "average" length as the diagnosed themselves. And when you ask "what was your LONGEST either high or low" you get even more variation. Anybody else have highs that last 6 or more months? (Not to hijack the original question. Haha)

Heck no. I get in trouble and usually wind up thrown in inpatient. The closest I got was 2 months one time. Bliss in the beginning, hell in the end....

Are you fully manic for 6 months?

[Secretum]

It really depends for me. I usually experience depression from late August until Marchish, so that is 6-7 months? But it varies in severity over that period. Hypo/mania varies a lot more. Everywhere from a few days to a few months. 2-3ish weeks is typical.

When I was 14, I was hypomanic for a good year, haha. Also had a super long hypo period when I was 17. Before I was dx'd bipolar and knew what was going on, I called the first period the "era of light" because I really felt that I really grew as a person during that time. I've been trying to achieve that same, stable sense of productivity and positive mood ever since...but it's never come back that mild and long since.

[Nammu]

Hypo mania has lasted months but people like me that way, I'm driven and I do a lot, afterwards I realize how physically hard I was driving myself and I'm exhausted

I don't get pure mania without ADs but when I have been its lasted a month or so and I do damage that lasts years

Depression lasts months.

It's the mixed episodes I'll do anything to get out of many of the hospitalizations were during mixed so I'm not sure how long they would last since I am usually medicated one way or another.

Remissions can last months too, but I do get bored and aim for hypo mania.

[loophole]

Depressed one to six months. Manic shorter... 2 weeks to 3 months.. This stuff varies quite a. It on me

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[bluecube000]

I don't know if im bipolar yet but my episodes are triggered by outside events not based on time. My highs can last a few hours and my lows a few days. I have a very rapid cycle.

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[meganb22]

My depression episodes are always the longest. They can last anywhere from days to a couple months. I don't always feel at my lowest for months but there is an overall feeling of sadness and hopelessness. My hypomanic episodes last anywhere from hours to days. I'm pretty sure I rapid cycle.

[cmorales]

It varies for me. I've had pure depression which has lasted 3 months, I've had agitated depression which seems never ending. Mixed states that go for a few weeks to a few months. Pure euphoric mania has lasted a few weeks, psychotic mania has lasted a month or to.

The last major episode I had was a switch off which lasted about a month and a half. It started with a few weeks of depression (about 2) then overnight I went manic and that lasted about 2.5 weeks, only to crash for another week or two before returning to "normal." (This was all before I started treatment. Back then, even "normal" mood for me was very irritable.)

[Mrs. Mania]

Usually changes occur in a week/month. My pdoc told me I'm a ultra rapid cycling bipolar. I love mania, hate depression and especially hate cycling so often. It makes me feel like Jekyll and Hyde.

[Reveille68]

My hypo manic episodes are never long enough... My family seems to like me when I'm hypo not realizing the cost to me, then I crash from exhaustion and depression takes over usually for months. It sucks but now being on depakote I hope it levels me out better. Too soon to tell.

[Mrs. Mania]

Originally Posted by Reveille68

My hypo manic episodes are never long enough... My family seems to like me when I'm hypo not realizing the cost to me, then I crash from exhaustion and depression takes over usually for months. It sucks but now being on depakote I hope it levels me out better. Too soon to tell.

I can relate, my family also loves me manic (except my irresponsible purchases). When I come down they're constantly asking what's wrong, I mean CONSTANTLY, several times a day from each of them...ugh

[SilverSprings]

This is something I am trying to figure out myself. Since I am newly diagnosed and working to get to the bottom- just found out BP 2 and PTSD. So, I never thought of myself as very depressed person before, mostly anxious, raging, and hypomanic, which tends to last a few days. I am beginning to think that my depression was very hidden even from myself. I never wanted to believe I was depressed. Just feeling moody or realistic, as I liked to think. However in reading and researching, I surely did experience depression. So, I guess tracking moods can be the only way to figure out how long the episodes last.

[Cocosurviving]

My mania last over five months. At the time I was not diagnosed and not aware. Once I was diagnosed I was able to look back and pin point my onset and when I was manic. I was in the hospital for two weeks for mixed episode. The second time a week and a half. I was depressed once for six months while on meds and it was hell on earth. I had a new med add that helped me out of my hole

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[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

My episodes tend to progress in a very gradual, insidious way, so the episodes themselves tend to last for quite a while, several months, but the period at which they peak and are severe is usually only weeks to a month long.

That pretty much describes it for me as well. My manias never last as long as my depressions, probably because they don't sneak up on me like the depressions do. Hypomania announces itself with a HELLO WORLD! and progresses to full-blown mania if I don't catch it in time. Fortunately I've gotten better at calling my pdoc when I feel myself going in one direction or the other, plus I'm pretty well-medicated and have been stable for months now.

[Lonlin3zz]

Several words to describe mine:

Random --- Happens anytime for no reason
Frequent/Periodic
Situational --- If I encounter a sort of life event, such as discovering an important answer to a serious life issue, passing of loved ones, heartbreaks, supports, etc....these important little things are the factors that triggers everything in me.

There's no word to describe how long my manic/depression would last, boils down to the 3 factor above.