Boy have I had a long awful trip to get to a diagnosis of bipolar. I started having periods of fast heartbeat, sweating, shaking, and inability to think clearly. Went to regular doc, who gave me hormones for menopause. That didn't work. Things kept getting worse, new symptoms developed, and I have had depressive episodes since my 20's. Doc kept telling me everything was ok, but I knew it wasn't. Then one day I had a full blown manic attack. Turns out I am now "rapid cycling" meaning that four times a day I switch. I wish I could just be me, but I've lost that person somewhere along the line. I'm unable to work, or be of use for much of anything for more than a few hours. I HATE this. It has been suggested that I look for "triggers" to my switching - like Jeckle and Hyde! My questions, after this rant, is: Is it worth looking for triggers? How do you know what one is? Once you know, what do you do about it?

YIKES!