I am 21 years old, diagnosed with bipolar II when i was 17. I have been mildly medicated before and take no medication now.
For the first year after my diagnosis there was a lot of suffering, product of my not understanding what was wrong with me. Exagerated feelings, from anger to sadness to love to anything, I felt everything 10X more than I ever did. I could not detach myself from this feelings and thoughts because they were so foreign and out of control; which was very unlike me a complete control freak. As the years have progressed I have learned to appretiate some of the things my bipolarism has given me.......
I think a lot, I think about everything, I analize things I can see many different points. I am very creative and can be very passionate when I do something. Due to my many pesonalities, also a product of my bipolarism I can sometimes relate to a much broader group of people.
I am extremely creative and have ingenious ideas.
and yes there are those days when I feel down, when I think of suicide, when I have no energy, will power or appetite (or too much appetite), when I am pissed of at the world but cant really comprehend why. I have lost friends, boyfriends, and almost even my own family due to my erratic behaviour and I guess I have learned that it just doesnt work out for me to behave that way.
Now I write everyday, I question my emotions just to see if they are really rational, I remind myself every single day that I can be irrational wether I am manic or depressed. I know my bipolarism, I have learned my triggers and I have learned to channel my energy when manic which has proved extremely beneficial to me. It is an everyday job, a constant pattern of reminding myself of my condition, of keeping myself in check. and is not easy and sometimes i fall off the boat, but as I have said to many I will say to you and you will probably think im completely insane.....IF I HAD THE CHANCE TO CURE MY BIPOLARISM...I WOULDN'T...It has made me a broad, smart, talented person...hope you can gain from your bipolarism some of what I have gained and you find some peace of mind.
good luck with everything

P.s ..I find this videos really helped me when i needed some guidance.
youtube : levels of conciousness
by some person named psychetruth