WELCOME, Steph!!!

Glad to have you here at PC. We're a very supportive and non-judgmental bunch on this forum, and I hope you enjoy and can learn from those with more experience with this disorder. I'm only a little farther down that road than you are---I was diagnosed in February of this year, but suffered with it for many years before I received a label for my recurrent bouts of anger, up and down moods, and intrusive thoughts.

It is a game-changer, that's for sure. I'm still struggling to accept my diagnosis, even as I'm relieved to have an explanation for my symptoms all those years; you'll probably want to expect some back-and-forth with yours as well. It is hard on one's dignity to be called "mentally ill", hard to contend with well-meaning family and friends who tend to discount one's understandable reactions to being stepped on with "Oh, that's just X being bipolar again". (That's my biggest gripe about having BP---I loathe being marginalized and having legitimate complaints waved away with "What, are you off your meds or something?" )

This is a good place to vent all of that stuff, and more. Hope you find comfort and support here.