Hi Laura, For me, I've had the bp II dx for over a year. And still not sure I agree with it. I don't like it, but I do trust my pdoc. It has caused me to re-evaluate every happy moment of my life, every choice and experience. It was no longer the magical, spontaneous times I remembered, but delusional hypomanic state? I probably won't ever really know what was real or not. There has been much grieving for me involved.
But as I've gotten older and it's gotten worse - I have to look at the mistakes I've made in hypomania, maxing out every credit card, bad choices with lovers, etc. So I feel better now knowing I've got it and that there's help. I don't ever want to make those mistakes again.
And now I know why I get so depressed, and I can get help. It does make sense for me.