It was about 8 years for me...I was treated for depression. I think my pdoc started to suspect, she put me on Lamictal along with a boatload of AD's. It wasn't until I was hospitalized that I was put on lithium--a lot. I couldn't get my pdoc to commit to a diagnosis, though. It wasn't until I went to another clinic that they gave me a dx of bipolar...they took my history and gave me screening test, one of those links I gave you a while back. They took me off the AD's and felt worlds better almost immediately.

If you're mainly depressed and haven't had any clear manic episodes many docs won't dx bipolar, especially after a relatively short time. Some clues--do you have a family history of bipolar? When you first start taking a new antidepressant, do you feel REALLY GOOD shortly thereafter? AD's can make you feel manic or hypomanic if you're bipolar.

These long times until a proper dx are very common--2 to 10 years is very common.

Hope things are well with you...wishing you the best!

DJ