I was misdiagnosed with unipolar depression for years & the anti-depressants would help for about 6 weeks (throwing me into a hypo manic state so I thought they were working) & then they would quit. I'd go back into a deep depression. I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 about 6 years ago. My mother was bipolar, as well.

It took a year for the doc to get the right combo of meds for me, but they really helped & I've been mostly stable since then. They do have remarkable new meds for bipolar now so it shouldn't be so scary. there is hope.--Suzy