I was diagnosed with BiPolar after I turned 30. Looking back, I started to show depressive symptoms as a child (starting at about age 6), and started to exhibit bipolar symptoms at around 16.

Initially, my episodes were so short that they were hard to detect. When I was 16-21, I was able to highly function on very little sleep. They'd last around 3-6 days, I would be level headed for a month or two- then I'd go into a hypo-manic drive.

Once I turned 22- I started experiencing more depression and anxiety and these spells lasted for a couple of months. I had very little hypo-mania until I had a psychotic break when I turned 30.

I cycled- I had hypomania with work and depression with everything else.

I sought treatment when I had a bad extended episode- it esculated to the point where I could no longer take care of myself or my daughter. I stopped eating and sleeping, lost about 35 pounds in a month, and started having delusions.

Being undiagnosed- I had a lot of social anxiety, very depressed, was hard to be around. I was also being verbally abused by my husband so I was very isolated. On the plus side- when the hypomania came- I was very focused at work and it allowed me to advance.

I took Lexpro briefly when I was 28 and decided that something that was wrong. Had no affect on me. I stopped it when I began pregnant.