Yes, it is a personal cocktail sort of thing that changes over time. The only mandate you need to realize is that you must take your meds. If you don't, I've found that the falling apart bit comes on much harder than it has to. Ergo, just take the things and be honest with your doctor as to how this particular cocktail is working for you.

Your brain chemistry is just that - yours. It is specific only to you and over time, your body does change what it needs to function normally. Keep that in mind and again, be honest with your doctor.

I was diagnosed 27 years ago. Yes, I've live that long with this diagnosis (actually, I manifested at about age 4). I would first suggest you new ones figure out, by reading or your therapist leading you, what the disease is and what you can expect from both your highs, lows and middles. Based on your personal history, your triggers will change what your highs and lows look like. No two are exactly the same, but there are different bipolar expectations; know yours. BP I is different from BP II.

Over time, you'll be able to notice the little things that tell you something is changing. Like today, in the check in thread, I was able to recognize that I snapped at someone today, just a pissy little comment within a good day, about something that was actually going to be a benefit to me. For me, that portends the peak and the beginning of the fall. You too will be able, with help from your therapist and time, to be aware of the change coming on. When you are able to do that, you will no longer be frightened of what will happen every day and you will be able to warn those you live with if you're a particularly angry BP. Eventually all of you will understand: It's not you, it's your chemistry acting up.

Now, as to educating your support system: that's a tough nut to crack. Some get the drift, some don't. It's a disease that can't be seen and that's mainly why they just don't get it. Accept that. Fighting that is just exhausting. I'd suggest you take a look at your family history as this is passed down genetically. I found it an interesting, and somewhat sad, roam though the family tree.

Ah, one other tip: learn to apologize. Leaving those unsaid isn't good over time.