Thanks for the replies.

I guess in a way, I am a bit lucky. Being diagnosed at an early age and having to live with this for so long and learning how to deal with it may have been a good thing for me.

I love the racing thoughts. In the last week they have picked back up. I went through a time where I was scared to eat because I choked on some food. Needless to say, I went from 230 pounds down to 150 pretty fast with no thought about what I might be doing to my body. I've been run down for about a year and now I am taking a high end vitamin and I am picking back up and I am very glad. (back up to 190 as well (I am a 6 foot male)).

I guess it all boils down to being used to things the way things are for us. If you are manic everyday of your life, you have to learn to adapt and move forward. If being manic is a kick in the rear, I can see where it would not be a great thing. The year of being "down" was miserable for me. I lost interest in things and was bored and tired all the time. I guess I was kicked into a lack of nutrition depressive state and that was the fist time in my life anything like that ever happened and it was unchartered territory for me. I'm very glad I am coming around.

Thanks again for the replies.