I was seven when I first became depressed. So, yes, it does hit us very young sometimes, doesn't it?

Fast forward to 14 ---> hospitalization, sui attempt, meds

Went in and out of therapy for depression through teens and early 20's. Postpartum depression at 28, went on Zoloft and seemed to feel really good really fast! (Hmmm...wonder why...) Had a miscarriage later that year - more postpartum type stuff, but this time the antidepressant (Paxil) sent me cycling and we kept increasing the dosage, thinking I was having breakthrough depressions w/rage and then good moods (through a GP) - finally crashed and burned ten months after miscarriage and diagnosed bipolar. I've been with a pdoc ever since.

I was unable to work for a while and my family fell apart after my second child was born. Looking back, I could see all sorts of manic episodes during times when I wasn't medicated, but by then the damage had been done and I became a chronic cycler, even after coming off the antidepressant. I'm 42 now and things have settled down but I'm unable to work again. My family is at least intact now, so that's what I hang on to.