I was treated for depression starting in 1996 but wasn't DX'd with BP until 2005. It has pretty much trashed my life, but I'm trying to build again, without a varying degree of luck. So, I guess I was 49 when diagnosed. When I look back through my life I think I was probably exhibiting symptoms starting in my teens, but I stayed very well medicated for well over 20 years... its WAS the 70's, after all. (lol) Sometimes I think those meds were better than what I get at the drug store!

So I keep hanging on, though it's hard from time to time. Times around the equinoxes seem to be the worst for me, I'm extremely bummed, can't stay out of bed. I'm hoping that I can do it now that I'm up and have a bit of Adderall in me. It does seem to pick me up and help me get moving, but I try to wait until things get really bad, don't want to take it too often.