Christina and Trippin are high on the list of people I go to when being bipolar overwhelms me, so you're making great connections already. I was dx'd clinically depressed for over 50 yrs before one fabulous psychiatrist at the psych unit I ended up in spent the time to find the bipolar disorder.

None of the anti-depressant drugs had ever worked, but with this new diagnosis (& a p-doc who agreed to find the best meds for me, not just something "good enough"), life became measurably better--and the coping skills I've learned here have saved my life.

I'm better with the meds, especially for the depressed pole. I seldom go hypo-manic--but when I do it's not a happy mania. It's an angry, scary, life-destroying mania. As others have said, everyone's brain chemistry--and so their issues--are different.

Labels don't help us. They're for p-docs and bean counters. We need to find out what works for us. As you go forward, remember that your doctors are a part of your support team. You consider their advice, but only you know what works for you. If you post often and connect with people on PsychCentral who seem to be where you want to be psychologically, you'll get to know folks who can be part of your support too.

roads