answer:I don’t think you can generalize about how long a manic or a deoressive stage will last, it is so individual, depends on how fast they seek treatment, if they find the right drug off the bat, and dose, etc. Living with someone who is manic is pretty difficult. They tend to be reckless, oversexualized, not sleeping, etc. Many people enjoy the phase, at least for a while, because they feel full of energy, and society tends to reward people wo need less sleep and have tons of energy. Being depressed, like any depressions, can disrupt sleep, the persn doesn’t enjoy anyting, it cam drag the entire family down. They cam be suicidal, feeling no hope they will ever be better. Cooperativeness really depends the patient. Some want to feel better, normal, especially those who are depressed. Some have side effects from medications and hate being medicated. Sometimes they respond well to medication, and then once they feel better for a while decide to stop takingntheir meds, because they feel better, and then they might start sliding backwards. I’ll forward your question to some jellies who are bipolar.