My experience is much that of Secretum's. I was dx'd just about 3 yrs ago but have probably battled bipolar disorder most of my adult life. Might even go back to my dx of clinical depression at age 8.

Either way, I've been increasingly unable to finish pretty much anything for the past decade or so. Really acute the past five yrs. No meds tho till three or so yrs ago.

They sure haven't helped with energy or motivation, tho. In fact, the only thing the drugs have helped with is leveling mood. I haven't tipped into hypomania since being on them, & I don't cry at TV commercials or drippy movies. Depressions are worse than pre-meds tho. Could do without that.