I'm a late bloomer to bp dx, but had many years of minor depressions over the years with some 'waking up' happening in the spring. Winter 05/06 I became manic, was sleeping very little, very creative, had an affair online, got depressed May 06, manic again July 06, bought a plane ticket to see my online love, which meant leaving my hub and teen sons, got caught, broke up, went through depression in Sept 06 that lasted through April 07. Was dxed bipolar in October 06. Been going through ups and downs ever since. Strangely enough, my bipolar coincides with the beginning of my perimenopause symptoms. Hot flasshes, night sweats, change in periods and change in pms symptoms.