My diagnosis came at the age of 35 , in the hospital after a severe manic episode. But my main struggle is not with the mania but with depression. Perhaps that is why it took soo long for a diagnosis. I can look back at my life and see peroids of time when I suffered with depression, and about 3 maybe or 4 hypomanic episodes. I think that the range of bipolar is quite large . It is different for everyone I talk to with this disorder.
For me the best course of action was to find out as much as I could about the disorder and to involve my family in my treatment. They observe different behaviors than I can see in myself. In the begining I went to the Pdoc with my husband or my stepmother so they could input the things I didnt see. Together we have been able to get the best care for me . Right now I am on a depressant and a mood stabilizer and I am quite healthy .
When you go the your appt. it is best to be totaly honest about your behaivior. It is quite embarassing to tell your doctor you are drinking more than usual or that your very sexual right now or that you have overdrawn your checking account 3 times in the last 2 months because of needless spending.(or whatever is true for you ) however this gives your Pdoc the information he needs to treat you acurately.
Good luck to you and take care of yourself.
Sher