How long can a mania episode last?

All but one of my past mania episodes only lasted 1-3 weeks before I got it under control. The last one lasted 4 months and was very destructive. I lost my special education teaching job. I failed out of the one class I was taking for my masters degree. I got separated and eventually divorced from my loving husband. I lost 3 stepkids I loved. Is this type of long destructive mania a normal thing?

my major breakdown, AKA "psychotic mania," lasted about the same amount of time. I was subjected to heavy, involuntary shock "treatment" to make it stop.

My longest one to date lasted about a year. It was untreated.

I am so sorry for all you went through. I know it doesn't feel like it now but things can get better. Destructive mania is a very real thing. (((Hugs)))

I've had a mixed manic state last months before

About 6 months for me, untreated. I was being treated for major depression and PTSD. I ruined friendships, was very impulsive, mind racing incredibly fast as was my speech at times, I was told I didn't make sense sometimes when I talked, wrecked my car running over a brick letterbox, slept 1-2 hours a day if at all, went running in the middle of the night, laughed inappropriately, became catatonic when my mind suddenly shut down for hours at a time, was very self-absorbed at times by not considering others and sold everything I had to go backpacking around the world trying to escape myself and my past. I was only on Effexor at the time.

One month into my backpacking trip through the USA, when I hit Seattle, the depression hit me hard and I spent most of my days in my hostel bed rather than sight seeing. I was deeply depressed for many months after that and it stole my ability to enjoy my holiday. I even considered throwing myself of the train from Seattle to LA, around the Oregon border, as we were crossing a deep ravine.

Haven't had a mania that bad since I have been on Lithium. Only a milder one that lasted 2 months and may even have only been hypomania. The bad mania had been triggered by trauma, which is what has happened to me again this time. Just hope the come down is not as severe as I am on meds. Olanzapine seems to be helping me think slower and put words together. It took me at least 30 minutes to write this as i keep getting distracted and seeing errors in my writing. but distraction is helping me stay safe.

sorry i rambled on. I can't seem to stop once i get going with words

Wander I love words too. :-)

I've had a couple manic episodes that lasted 2-3 months, even though I didn't recognize them for what they were at the time. I remember spending one whole summer bouncing-off-the-walls manic---never slept more than 4 hours a night, did some hardcore partying, spent money like it was going out of style. I worked 14-hour days and can't remember producing anything of value. I drank to come down off the high but it didn't work for long. Finally when fall arrived it went away, and then I went into a months-long depression. And to think I didn't even know I had bipolar until about five years ago...smh

I'm studying literature and writing at uni so words fascinate me but now i have too many in may head to write properly, grammatically correct words...oh i want to write so much more but not applicable to this tread

send me a private message if you want to talk/share.....
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

My last mixed/mania situation was destructive too. My husband wanted a separation, which lasted a couple of months. Now we're back together. The whole situation lasted five months. It ended in disaster.

My longest was 3 months .... *sigh*

I think the longest was three months. I got my disability pay and we were moving to Montana, come hell or high water. I finally crashed when our pre-approval didn't go through. My poor husband was struggling to keep up and got really angry at one point.

Thanks for your response. I started lithium along with a few others as well and have been more stable.

My longest episode was a month, but I knew someone who's manic episode was 8 months long.

Longest for.me.that I.can remember is 2 months thanks to Welbutrin z I may have had longer ones in the past, but can't remember.