When I was looking to stop using the pill (I also don't have the greatest mental stability on the pill) I remember reading a lot of people saying that the pill isn't recommended for people who are bipolar and that those who did use it had bad results. I'm not bipolar but my sister is and this seems to stand true for her. The other thing that came up is that Depo Provera shots were the worst for bipolar patients and IUDs are usually the best. It has something to do with the added hormones mixing with mental illness.

I don't thing that there's been any sign that the pill CAUSES bipolar, I'm sure it wouldn't be so openly prescribed if that was the case so I don't think it would have been avoided had you not taken the pill. I do think that in the case of someone who has bipolar but has not yet been diagnosed, it can set things into high gear.

Sorry to hear how much it has impacted your life, I hope the IUD helps in starting to get things under control