Are you accepting of your diagnosis?
I have struggled with depression, anxiety, panic and since teen years and had one or two bouts of paranoid/delusional thinking. So yes, I can accept my diagnosis because I suspected I had bipolar for a very long time.

How old were you when diagnosed?
Before I left home as a teenager I was sent to the hospital from high school (age 16) because I was having so many panic attacks back to back. The school guidance counsellor didn't know what to do with me. From the hospital teen clinic I was referred to a family doctor who provided excellent support for a long time. After awhile she referred me to a psychiatrist. I tried meds a couple of time (Effexor, Luvox) but had a horrible reaction both times and never got past 1 pill each time. I had terrible PPD/PPA/PTSD after the birth of my first child (age 29) and didn't get treatment for depression until pregnant with my second child (age 32). At that time I was diagnosed with depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In the postpartum I tried Trazadone once but didn't like it as it made me too sleepy to get up and nurse. When my cycles came back I was diagnosed with PMDD and I finally felt like I was getting some answers. It wasn't until the last year or two (age 38 now) that I connected with a pdoc who suspected bipolar 2. She referred me to a book called Why Am I Still Depressed by Dr. Jim Phelps and I felt like it was describing my life!

Current treatment choice/why?
Before kids I tried all natural treatments (supplements like St. John's Wort, omega 3's, vitamin B; cognitive behavioural therapy, journaling, tons of exercise, good diet, time with friends, etc). Those worked sometimes, at other times not at all. After kids none of it was enough anymore and I turned to meds out of suicidal desperation. I had a pdoc who slowly titrated me on to Prozac starting with infant sized doses so side effects were manageable and slowly upped my dose so I could function at work and as a parent. At present I am taking meds (Prozac, Wellbutrin and Abilify) and I LOVE THEM!

Did your lifestyle change since being diagnosed?
I sleep more regularly, take meds regularly, listen to taking care of myself more by reducing stress. I am staying away from overly negative people and situations that can trigger me into doing impulsive things that have negative consequences (staying away from drunken dance parties that I used to attend). I am still working on exercising enough and losing weight.

Your opinion of meds vs alternate treatment?
Do what works for you. Not everything works for everyone all of the time. We are all different and what you may need at one stage of life may be helpful, but you may need something else at another stage of life.

Level of education? did Bipolar affect your abilities?
I'm university education and have a 13 year career in social services. I also work as a birth and postpartum doula on the side. I am an excellent actress and could act "normal" at work an overwhelming majority of the time. No one can tell I have bipolar.

Do you work, if so where?
See above.

Family life? Who do you live with, how do you all cope with this disorder?
Before kids when it was just dh and me, he was very understanding and we could ride the waves of my illness. But with children it is utterly necessary for me to be stable so I can be the best mom possible to my kids. I don't want to hurt them with my mood problems. That said, I know I'm not perfect and I've made mistakes. At times my mood problems burst through with them and I know it affects them. This is where my triggers are: at home with my family. I go for counselling as I need, read parenting resources, take my meds. Its better this way.

Do you feel your quality of life has been increased or decreased since experiencing Bipolar Disorder?
At times I miss being unmedicated because I had an incredible memory, great charisma, tons of energy and got tons of stuff done, had tons of sex appeal (which was lots of fun!!!). But at times I was also severely irritable to the point of irrationality, had anxiety/panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, deep dark depression. I feel bipolar disorder has made me more appreciative of what my client base goes through (they are people with disabilities). I feel it gives me a particular insight into the struggles of life. I think it makes me more human and a stronger person because I've had to learn to go into the abyss and come back out again many, many times. I've learned I can rely on myself to get help when I need it because I've already done this many, many times.