I've probably been BP my entire life, and indeed had suspected it since my early 40s, but it didn't get completely out of control until a year-and-a-half ago. I was 53. I had my first mixed episode and thought I was going to lose my mind......my PCP refused to treat me and sent me for a psych eval.

To say I was offended would be the understatement of the decade, but he was right, I needed a psychiatrist and badly! Even now, being on 4 different Rx's for my bipolar, I still fight it pretty hard and I think it IS progressing as I get older. However, it's a lot better than it used to be, and I know that without all these pills I'd have been in the state hospital, or even dead by now.