It doesn't get better as you age unless you are getting treatment (in my experience). I'm 56 & have been ill since I was 15 (1st suicide attempt). Mother committed suicide after many attempts when I was 15 (bipolar I--my dx as well). So I finally got the correct dx about 15 yrs. ago , but even so it wasn't until I started DBT & indiv. therapy w/DBT instructor about 1 1/2 yrs. ago that I started making real progress & got some hope. Had suicide attempt 3 yrs. ago. So it has been really hard for me to "get over that" but within 3 mos. of DBT I was no longer suicidal & didn't feel "triggered" all the time. Finally got some hope for improvement & even felt some JOY in my life--something I've never had. EMDR also helped w/chronic insomnia.