Welcome happypandahh. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 31, but have had symptoms since I was 8. My symptoms got progressively worse until I was committed to a Psychiatric Hospital because I was found attempting. Up until I was 31, I functioned quite well and explained away the depression as burn out. The depression I experienced at 31 lasted 3 months and it nearly killed me. Learn from my mistake and seek out help from a Psychiatrist. In my opinion the sooner the diagnosis and proper treatment the better.

I hope you find this site supportive.