Hello Supreme and welcome to the board.
I am curious why you are going off your medications.
Often people do it because they doubt their diagnosis to begin with, start to feel better and decide they aren't really bipolar and don't need their meds. This lasts right up until they have the next episode. In your case, you seem to accept your diagnosis and realize you will have an episode, so I'm wondering why you'd choose to do this.
I don't believe any can answer your questions as bipolar disorder encompasses a whole spectrum of symptoms, and it varies so much from one individual to another. There are certain generalities one can make though. Chances are like 99% that you will have future episodes. There is no way to determine when this might happen. Some people go years between episodes. Some people cycle every day. There are no predictable patterns....That's why it is such a roller coaster illness.
Chances are you will still be a rapid cycler. Usually the longer someone goes being untreated, the more common it is to have rapid cycles. Stress is one of the main triggers for an episode. Most books about BP have an entire chapter about stress, how it affects BP, how to reduce it, etc. Chronic stress can suppress the immune system. When you're depressed it affects the amount of cortisol that your body produces. When this goes on for a period of time, this increased level of cortisol actually alters the biochemistry of your brain.
Using marijuana and/or alcohol can trigger an episode and can make the symptoms more intense.
Your final question I don't have an answer for. Since you were recently diagnosed, your body hasn't had much time to get used to the meds you were prescribed...so I don't know how long it might take for you to start noticing symptoms again. But, rest assured, even when you feel "normal," you are and will continue to be bipolar.
Hope you find some answers to your questions on this board. Please keep posting with your comments and questions...and,
Take care.
Tsohl
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