Yes. You're lucky you have been diagnosed early.

I wasted my early twenties making poor decisions, drinking heavily, and getting into trouble. I think I was finally diagnosed at 25 or something? Once I got on the right meds I felt much better. And things stabled out for awhile, until I got PPD after my daughter was born (at 29), and then the bp kind of reared it's ugly head again (I am now 32).

It's always there. I mean, there are remission periods that can last years (well, pre my last episode I had two years episode free). I guess you kind of learn to live with it, like it's something you get used to? I don't know. I'm trying not to be negative here. I definitely know the signs now of a nasty manic/mixed/psychotic/whatever episode coming on, so I think I'll be able to avoid having another one of those.

Depression however... beats me.