I was diagnosed seven years ago at age 44. But I was diagnosed depressed in my early 20's. From what my children tell me I was having symptoms in my late 20's and early 30's. Yet I have no memory of this time. By the time I was diagnosed I had spent us into 72000.00 in debt. So I guessing I was actually suffering a long time before diagnosed.

yeah, after reading about disease I found out right. I have to get educated on how to deal with mania. I'm sorry Linda for everything you've had to endure. I've had this all my life looking back. What's worse is I was aggressive so nobody wanted to tell me. Talk about shame. There I was thinking I was right. ((HUGS))

My diagnosis has always fluctuated over the years, and it still does from pdoc to tdoc and back, but the process/ initial treatment started when I was 20.

DX at age 27 or at least that is when they prescribed meds for me . I think I was born with MI !

I think some Pdoc's like to get to know a pt b4 prescribing meds .

I think just being BP is overwhelming itself .

I think you're right aloha

That depends!!

Diagnosed by 'who'?!?!!

I was in my early 30's and taking a Psy 101 class and recognized myself as being cyclothymic when that condition was covered!!!
I didn't DO anything about it. I considered it a plus!!! I was almost always very happy!! (Even on top of mild depression, LOL!!)

Yeah, well, then later, life dumped about 10 straight years of absolute hell on me and the stress of it tipped me over the edge!!!

That Psy class was long forgotten.
But over the course of say about 2 years, I started behaving VERY strangely!!!
Eventually, I Googled myself as having Bipolar Disorder.

I went to my primary care doc, told her of my suspicions, she called a Pdoc (to find out what kind of sleeping pill she should prescribe for me since I was only sleeping 1 hour and 45 minutes a night), got me an appointment for the very next day and then, BAM!!

The Pdoc proclaimed me Bipolar, right on the spot!!!
I believe I was 53, at the time.

And, yes.
I found it rather 'overwhelming' for at least the first 6 months or so.
Having a label of 'Bipolar Disorder' was quite unsettling!!!

BUT!!!!
One good thing!!!!
Even though you now have this diagnosis and it's overwhelming (and if you're like me, depressing, and frightening and stuff like THAT, too!!), things are probably going to start getting better for you, from here on!!!

The right medication can make a HUGE difference in the quality of your life.
And the more you learn about the illness and how it affects your life, you will probably get much better at handling life and making the best decisions for yourself!!!

I hope things get better for you soon!!!

(((((Hugs)))))

I experienced social anxiety when I was seven years old and my first suicide failure was at fifteen years old but my first treatment was not until my late twenties and bipolar years later with many suicide failures in between. I really should not be alive. I wish there was a cure for it as it is such a contradiction to my normal nature which is happy and optimistic always seeing the best in everything having to constantly battle with the lies of bipolar thanks to parts of the brain not working properly. sucks.

Thank you eulenspiegal, That makes me feel better a lot better actually. Yeah I'm paranoid about leaving my home and being with people. I was in a bad way and I black out sometimes in the hospital with no drugs in my system. That being said I've told off so many people and they don't want anything to due with me. I was completely delusional and hearing things, that was the first episode that I did that. However I've had others but not so bad. I'm high manic right now with nothing. Thanks for replying to my questions. I really do appreciate this. (((hugs))))
Irish I'm sending you (((hugs))) I feel not normal, that something is wrong also. I hope you start feeling better. That is normal to US here. Wishing you the best today.

I have had depression since I was a child.. I was officially put on meds when I was in my 20's diagnosed as bipolar in my mid 30s.

Oh. The alcohol thingy. I am an alcoholic. I stopped drinking in '97.
How could I not drink when I had all of these godawful mood swings all of the time? Alcohol gave me courage and a sense of stability.
With meds and therapy I've learned how to live my life. I can have the occasional glass of wine w/dinner or a cold beer at the stadium. But no hard stuff....it just makes me want more and more and more til I'm shnockerd.

26

late 30's, and i just turned 666, so....it's been a while.

ah....the antichrist.....we have found him!
Come Abdul, we must flee.

nahhhh...i'm lazy as shit

too much responsibility!

they had a special therapist. I am bp1 high mania. I haven't seen the doc yet. However I did see the doc in the hospital I took out several hospital workers and made a jerk out of myself. On the spot they wanted everybody to know and when they read what that doctor wrote my primary and the therapist took over 30 minutes and they didn't look the same at me. ARGH...I can see it in their eyes