Wow, you've lived quite a life in 30 short years. I find that's true of a lot of bipolar people. In spite of our illness, we seem to have great achievements...maybe due to the hypomania/manic side, but the broad spectrum of emotions can help a variety of fields. I've had tons of insomnia through my college years...which will probably never end...and yes, I like ellipses too. So, I've been to 4 colleges, 1 non-accredited associate's degree and I was still a sophomore at the end of spring. Ha! But I finally convinced them to add some of my credits from that Bible college, like Hebrew, Greek, a general science course, and my English classes, etc., so now I'm a junior. Still seems silly at my age (same as yours). But I guess people go back to school all the time and get their degrees into their 90s. Go them! I've had tons of jobs and traveled and lived in many places in this country and around the world. And I wouldn't trade that for graduating at 22 and starting an entry level job, then doing the whole shebang of what my parents expected of me. I resent my religious upbringing as well. I think all the people who preach about hell should go to it because it's people like them who invented it and continue to spread the cruel practice of inculcating children in such a way as to fear everything if they don't line up perfectly. I personally know this is a form of abuse. I'm not exactly an atheist or an agnostic...I'm somewhere in between them on the "faith - non faith spectrum." I think I could be proven wrong through more experiences, but I'm hecka sure that no deity as described by any religion or holy person exists. If they did, we'd be pretty much screwed no matter what we do. But then, since life itself is terminal, I guess we are anyway. Enjoy the good things while they last. And yeah, I'd do the same thing...put school on hold and enjoy your kids while they still want your attention. They'll be standoffish soon enough.

There I go on several tangents, but you know how it is. I hope to now (after 3 or so major changes) to get a BS in studio art. Quite a shift from geology. I do love science and even some aspects of math, but it totally stresses me out and turns me OCD about memorizing everything in my textbooks. I like to paint and write and sculpt anyway, might as well get through my schooling in one piece...that is if my mind ever gets balanced out. I'm really teetering about going back to the professionals for different meds or else just trying to find natural remedies, but I kind of suspect I won't be able to do it on my own or just with therapy since I've had spells of depression and hypomania since I was at least 7.

And mindfulness is way cool if you can be there in the moment. I've been able to do that now and again in my life. It's very peaceful, but this world is sure distracting with all of the crazy things going on everywhere.

Take it easy man.