34, even though I've had some WILD manic episodes that really should have set off some alarms earlier in my life, such as when I was 28 and sold all my possessions and just drove away.
I was 28 and I don't even understand how I could live like that without medication. Endless paranoja, dumb choices, risky behaviour, deep depressions, and the physical pain.. I had so much muscle tension, burning sensations, headaches and all sorts of stuff, I thought I had a completely different illness.
Interesting you mentioned that. I have muscle tension, burning sensations on my back and buzzing sensations throughout my skull. I never related that to bp2. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hear ya. Sometimes I have so much energy it feels like my skin crawls a little. A lot of heat. Got a panic attack. My heart rate raced up to 170. Wasnāt caffeine or drugs either. Gotta monitor my heart rate. Itās normal for it to go up to 101 when relaxing. Or up to 133 when walking on flat ground.
I stopped caffeine, only drink decaf, once a day before 3p. No alcohol or drugs of any kind. Minimal sugar too. I noticed all of these things were throwing me off balance. Caffeine caused a sudden heart rate increase and also sensations on the head, I could literally feel the rush and electric activity going bonkers, fidgety legs, trembling etc. after having gone decaf I can still enjoy the but without these symptoms.
Same. I was actually diagnosed as having narcissistic tendencies because of these manic periods where I was supremely confident. Nope. Just had bipolar. Diagnosis was changed finally when I showed up manic for an appointment at age 34.
In some ways I feel fortunate because I've gone through enough pain and suffering to realize sticking to my meds and therapy is the right way to live (seeing soooo many posts about people want to go off meds) and also sad because I ruined a good 20 years of my life, or more accurately, the disease ruined it for me š
I was diagnosed this year at 46...I feel good to at least know, but man...It hurts to realize that so much of your past could have been different! How was it for you after you were diagnosed?
28. I took a trip to the Behavioral Health Unit for 10 days and when I got out, they had me get blood work to see if everything was okay with me. A few weeks pass, I go to the hospital and take an assessment for bipolar. Turns out I have bipolar 2.
23. I can pinpoint my symptoms manifesting when I was 17. It got so much worse after the birth of my second child and that was what prompted me to seek out a psychiatrist's appointment. My primary care provider and I thought I had depression, so we were treating the bipolar incorrectly.
16. It was caught when I purchased a car without a license or telling my parents first. Took me 5 trips to different professionals before I believed it for some reason.
28 diagnosed with Bipolar, 29 diagnosed with ADHD as well. I was diagnosed/treated off & on for anxiety & depression for probably 10 years before diagnosis.
30. Had been drinking a-lot in my early teens all through my twenties and when my life settled down more I realized something was really wrong and kept drinking it away, making my manic episodes blackout periods. Wasnāt until i ended up in the psych ward suicidal that I started to get help. Still a battle but hey, now I know what Iām battling. Hang in there folks.
I was hospitalized for SI a month after my 18th birthday, where they prescribed me an SSRI. (Hypo?)mania ensued, so I fucked half the college campus and went on long walks at 3 AM. My psychiatrist officially diagnosed me a few months later. I'm almost 24 now.
15. Symptoms started when I was around 9-10. Then I was undiagnosed when I got a second opinion, was told I just wasnāt sleeping enough and hormonal. Rediagnosed at 19. 16-19 were rough knowing what it was but nobody would help me because of my age.
15. Symptoms started that same year. They originally said āmood disorderā on my chart but my doctor told me itās bipolar 2 but said because I was so young he was going to keep it vague on my chart. Got put on the same meds to treat BP2. Later down the line he ended up changing it in my chart to match. I vividly remember feeling like I couldnāt control anything in my life but also being genuinely convinced that I could do EVERYTHING. Shoplifting. Vaping (and the getting bronchitis because I have severe asthma. I knew better than to vape but consequences kind of didnāt exist in my head). Talking very loudly about inappropriate subjects. Jumping on tables in public (mostly at school..in the lunchroom..). Nearly getting emancipated for my parents despite the fact that I most definitely couldnāt take care of myself at 15. I guess I had a bit of an āearlyā diagnosis, but both my grandmother and my brother also started having symptoms early so I guess it just runs in the family.
38. Every doctor was telling me "it's treatment resistant depression'. My family and all the doctors I'd seen since childhood managed to miss autism and, most likely, adhd.
55!!! Suffered a long time with Bipolar I noticed symptoms of depression and hypomania in late or mid 40s. I had symptom but had no idea what they meant.
24 and I am still trying to get grips on it even though Iām on the right medications. Environmental and situational events in my life are making it close to impossible to get through everything. Thereās always been a problem over problem and I havenāt really had a break yet.
i was diagnosed with bp II at the age of 16 after rapid cycling and a severe manic episode that was caused by the antidepressants that my family doc prescribed me. she thought it was anxiety and depression first but after what happened with the antidepressants she sent me to a psychiatrist and there came the diagnosis. i also had c-ptsd, from lifelong narcissistic abuse from my father as well as sexual assault and abuse and physical abuse from my partners at the time. i got diagnosed early and i know that it played a big part in me being stable at the age of 21
29. Had Autism before mania symptoms started appearing after a traumatic early and late 20s. Trauma based for me. Heart rate goes up to 120 when Iām washing dishes or walking(flat ground). Panic attacks go up to 180.
23, about a month ago š
Two days before my 23rd birthday as the best bday gift ever! š„³š„³
34, even though I've had some WILD manic episodes that really should have set off some alarms earlier in my life, such as when I was 28 and sold all my possessions and just drove away.
I was 35 but I feel the exact same way.
I was 28 and I don't even understand how I could live like that without medication. Endless paranoja, dumb choices, risky behaviour, deep depressions, and the physical pain.. I had so much muscle tension, burning sensations, headaches and all sorts of stuff, I thought I had a completely different illness.
I can really relate to this. For me the paranoia/anxiety mix really came from bipolar. Iām so much calmer now
Interesting you mentioned that. I have muscle tension, burning sensations on my back and buzzing sensations throughout my skull. I never related that to bp2. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hear ya. Sometimes I have so much energy it feels like my skin crawls a little. A lot of heat. Got a panic attack. My heart rate raced up to 170. Wasnāt caffeine or drugs either. Gotta monitor my heart rate. Itās normal for it to go up to 101 when relaxing. Or up to 133 when walking on flat ground.
I stopped caffeine, only drink decaf, once a day before 3p. No alcohol or drugs of any kind. Minimal sugar too. I noticed all of these things were throwing me off balance. Caffeine caused a sudden heart rate increase and also sensations on the head, I could literally feel the rush and electric activity going bonkers, fidgety legs, trembling etc. after having gone decaf I can still enjoy the but without these symptoms.
35 for me as well and yes there were a lot of red flags all along my life.
Same for me: me, 34
Same. I was actually diagnosed as having narcissistic tendencies because of these manic periods where I was supremely confident. Nope. Just had bipolar. Diagnosis was changed finally when I showed up manic for an appointment at age 34.
21
24. Had a reeeeeal bad time 22-24 that finally got me to go to a psychiatrist. Diagnosed first session I was so bad.
19. Symptoms started at 17
I was slapped with āmanic depressionā at 12, more formally diagnosed at 29.
32
29. Probably triggered from trauma in my early 20s.
29, too! Likewise.
42
41, hello fellow long term undiagnosed person
Hello fellow late dx friends, I was 41 as well.
In some ways I feel fortunate because I've gone through enough pain and suffering to realize sticking to my meds and therapy is the right way to live (seeing soooo many posts about people want to go off meds) and also sad because I ruined a good 20 years of my life, or more accurately, the disease ruined it for me š
I feel like I got lucky that I didnāt have many noticeable symptoms until I was around 40 besides crushing depression, lol.
46. Almost 11 years ago.
I was diagnosed this year at 46...I feel good to at least know, but man...It hurts to realize that so much of your past could have been different! How was it for you after you were diagnosed?
Same. Huge relief but it was only a result of losing my marriage. So much lost. But finally feel 'in control'.
Same same sameā100%.
17
20. I'm 33 now.
29
27
19, had my first hypomanic/bordering on manic episode in April, got diagnosed 2 weeks after. Now Iām on medication and going to therapy!
26
28. I took a trip to the Behavioral Health Unit for 10 days and when I got out, they had me get blood work to see if everything was okay with me. A few weeks pass, I go to the hospital and take an assessment for bipolar. Turns out I have bipolar 2.
Too old - 48
26 I think? I had symptoms waaaaay before that though
26
44
46ā¦ about a month ago. But it clarifies a whole bunch of things that happened in my life!
27
36
13
20 and they started manifesting around 12
22
25, but was starting to have symptoms around 21. Didn't realize it at the time but looking back I can see it.
25 but I had symptoms well before that, just no access to care
25
20, itās been two years and itās still hard to accept
30. 23 years ago
Suspected at 13, diagnosed formally at 21
21, Iāll be 25 this month
24
10, but they called it manic depression back in the day.
17
23. I can pinpoint my symptoms manifesting when I was 17. It got so much worse after the birth of my second child and that was what prompted me to seek out a psychiatrist's appointment. My primary care provider and I thought I had depression, so we were treating the bipolar incorrectly.
24
27
15
16. It was caught when I purchased a car without a license or telling my parents first. Took me 5 trips to different professionals before I believed it for some reason.
24
16. I spent 6 months inpatient. It was either the psych ward or juvie and I had no say.
Diagnosed with depression as a teen, changed to bipolar when I was around 18
23, almost two years ago. *sigh*
17 with Major Depression (clinically) & with Bipolar 2 in 18
41 -- white knuckling for 30 years was ... tough
64 What a ride!
39
31
32
22
17, 3 years ago
33
19 (december 2023)
44
28
22
27
a month before my 20th birthday
24
38
26
13 I was diagnosed very young
30ish
36
35
28
35, almost 36. Today I'm precisely half-way between 38 and 39.
28 diagnosed with Bipolar, 29 diagnosed with ADHD as well. I was diagnosed/treated off & on for anxiety & depression for probably 10 years before diagnosis.
Symptoms started at 13 officially diagnosed at 19
34
They suspected it at 19. Officially diagnosed 31.
22
18 was the official diagnosis
43 š
21, about four years ago
40 ish
21
29
25
30
42, but the signs since high school.
25
30. Had been drinking a-lot in my early teens all through my twenties and when my life settled down more I realized something was really wrong and kept drinking it away, making my manic episodes blackout periods. Wasnāt until i ended up in the psych ward suicidal that I started to get help. Still a battle but hey, now I know what Iām battling. Hang in there folks.
28, but I was also told Iād had it all along I was just undiagnosed and unmedicated as a result.
19!
I think 25? But I had symptoms in middle school.
I honestly donāt remember.
22, but I was misdiagnosed as MDD at 19 and it took 15 days in inpatient treatment to get a proper diagnosis
40
28
19, about to be 23
19!
27, almost 28.
Three days after my 15th birthday
16
23
Therapist brought up manic depression around 19-20. Loooooong gap in mental health care and then I was officially diagnosed in my late 30s.
19/20
30, although I had psychiatrist in the past that have hinted at it. Anyway, a lot of my 'odd' behavior in my 20s now makes a lot of sense.
25, earlier this year
Put on antipsychotics for bipolar symptoms at 14 diagnosed at 16
19 years old?
48. Most likely started in my teens and explains a lot of my life 16-35
28, diagnosed this past Saturday
19/20 then again at 24..
29 officially, I knew from my teens because it ran in my family.
I was hospitalized for SI a month after my 18th birthday, where they prescribed me an SSRI. (Hypo?)mania ensued, so I fucked half the college campus and went on long walks at 3 AM. My psychiatrist officially diagnosed me a few months later. I'm almost 24 now.
37
24
33, few months ago
15. Symptoms started when I was around 9-10. Then I was undiagnosed when I got a second opinion, was told I just wasnāt sleeping enough and hormonal. Rediagnosed at 19. 16-19 were rough knowing what it was but nobody would help me because of my age.
19ājust last year in March
19
A little over a year ago 2 weeks before I turned 21 lmao what a great 21st birthday present š
21 Iām 22 now still want to die
Albanian
24
I think 23 but my symptoms started around age 12 from what I remember
33 or so
23 & going on 25 now
46 for me. Wish it had been earlier but glad to know now.
21
23. Iāll be 40 this year.
10 š
25 (literally only 3 months ago š¬š)
35
15. Symptoms started that same year. They originally said āmood disorderā on my chart but my doctor told me itās bipolar 2 but said because I was so young he was going to keep it vague on my chart. Got put on the same meds to treat BP2. Later down the line he ended up changing it in my chart to match. I vividly remember feeling like I couldnāt control anything in my life but also being genuinely convinced that I could do EVERYTHING. Shoplifting. Vaping (and the getting bronchitis because I have severe asthma. I knew better than to vape but consequences kind of didnāt exist in my head). Talking very loudly about inappropriate subjects. Jumping on tables in public (mostly at school..in the lunchroom..). Nearly getting emancipated for my parents despite the fact that I most definitely couldnāt take care of myself at 15. I guess I had a bit of an āearlyā diagnosis, but both my grandmother and my brother also started having symptoms early so I guess it just runs in the family.
26! Just last November.
28
Eh...thirty-something...? š
22, just diagnosed last week. Been having troubles for 9 years now and happy to finally have a diagnosis.
22
32
23, but I was misdiagnosed for 3 hours
19
21
31 but I was showing definite signs in my late teens to early 20s. I used to be a nightmare to treat with antidepressants
38. Every doctor was telling me "it's treatment resistant depression'. My family and all the doctors I'd seen since childhood managed to miss autism and, most likely, adhd.
Misdiagnosed at 18, correctly diagnosed with Bipolar at 32
20 the first time. Thought it was gone. 48 the second time. It wasn't gone.
19
17 !
23
14. Many hospitalizations until we got it under control.
Mid-40s. Should have been diagnosed when I had my first breakdown about 13 years ago. Had symptoms since my 20s and one of my parents has BP1.
Diagnosed today, I'm 16š„ø
46
19! im 21 now
17, and 34
18, last January. One week after my birthday
30. 1 year ago
16 years old...
29
severe generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder at 17, bipolar at 21
20, i think my symptoms started at 16-17
49 back in February
21, but hypomanic episodes started right after I turned 20
55!!! Suffered a long time with Bipolar I noticed symptoms of depression and hypomania in late or mid 40s. I had symptom but had no idea what they meant.
31 with no real manic episode or deep depression episodes. Thankfully.
19
Diagnosed at 18, now 28 years old.
22
22, was diagnosed with major depression and GAD until i got a second opinion a month ago
20
24 and I am still trying to get grips on it even though Iām on the right medications. Environmental and situational events in my life are making it close to impossible to get through everything. Thereās always been a problem over problem and I havenāt really had a break yet.
41, 3 years ago.
35 but Iāve been symptomatic since I was 12
i was diagnosed with bp II at the age of 16 after rapid cycling and a severe manic episode that was caused by the antidepressants that my family doc prescribed me. she thought it was anxiety and depression first but after what happened with the antidepressants she sent me to a psychiatrist and there came the diagnosis. i also had c-ptsd, from lifelong narcissistic abuse from my father as well as sexual assault and abuse and physical abuse from my partners at the time. i got diagnosed early and i know that it played a big part in me being stable at the age of 21
23; it was triggered after i was SA-d
17
just diagnosed at 26!!
29. Had Autism before mania symptoms started appearing after a traumatic early and late 20s. Trauma based for me. Heart rate goes up to 120 when Iām washing dishes or walking(flat ground). Panic attacks go up to 180.
Quit caffeine, cold turkey.
29