It took me years to get a formal diagnoses. First psychotic episode at sixteen, first suicide attempt at eighteen, depression and manias for years on end, with calm bits inbetween, however ongoing psychosis and paranoia. Provisionally considered "depressed" in early twenties, but the meds never worked, diagnosed bipolar at 38, later revised to schizoaffective. Finally on meds that work, and got my life back.

I'm pretty sure that twenty two years isn't the norm though...