I wasnt diagnosed until I was 43 ... But looking back as I have said before , I showed the signs at about age 6 ... But I went on to work , get married have a child, yeah just lived life.

When I was diagnosed looking back I thought ...Oooo well that explains that or this or yeah I act/acted a way probably because of BP .. I didnt realize people were not like me with my racing mind and stuff. I was clueless and it didnt matter ,I had things to do.

Getting a label often triggers people to freak out about there life in the past and of course concerns about the future.

My journey once diagnosed was I dove in learned everything possible , grasps at all straws , Talked to people and doctors and went a bit over board a few times lol

Now? Now I just take things as they come, I do know I can be happy sad mad pissed or in a rage at times and it has NOTHING to do with Bipolar, Its okay to have emotions even if they feel extreme. It's a normal emotion of any human on the planet.

Personally I have learned to not over analyze how I feel. I realize that I have changed from my untreated often manic and depressed years long ago. I am more self aware, so I watch for blips that may be a episode , I don't dwell tho.

Im not the same person now at 47 as I was when I was 20 . Everyone changes as they age, mental health issues or not. Maybe some become more driven , many lean back and coast more instead of driving so hard and fast. Example , my husband talks about his younger years when he worked 80+ hours a week had his own 2 companies and was on the go 24/7 .... Now ? Nah hes older wiser he works but doesn't feel the need to go full blast anymore,

I always say .. Don't fall in the rabbit hole and allow yourself to be trapped into the thought that "everything" about your life and actions is Bipolar.