Love that question!

I think about a one-third of those with BP, about 50%–100% of those with SZA/BP and likewise 50%-100%, but probably far more towards the 100%, have had quite serious prodromes all their lives. Why I think that is largely explained in a recent thread about Memory (I gave similar explanations and my own story in other threads).

I had definitely prodromes all my life, which can be summed up as bad/inaccurate memory and (consequently, I posit) bad/inaccurate perception.

Some (if not all) of those prodromes are symptoms of dyslexia (not strictly speaking all prodromes, but loosely interpreted, that itself being a prodromes). Dyscalculia is very similar. I call the syndrome of psychotic disorder prodromes dysreductia (assuming a reduced memory capacity).

At a very young age and through my first depression that started at age 11, I made no sense at all: my mind was disorganised/disordered. Just before the depression I developed a personality and its development was cut short by the depression, which can be described as a psychotic borderline personality (BPD). During that depression I developed mild hallucinations. After the depression I was able to communicate far more effectively and treated my firm beliefs as jokes, to be made fun of. Mania/psychosis hit for the first time some years later.

I sometimes do joke about my beliefs to this day, but generally I only talk to my insane friends and they have rather wild ideas themselves and can relate, respect and accept. My psychiatrist is the only very sane person and really sees me as completely mental. I see that as a compliment: I resist destruction/disintegration of my self/soul.

But I am not your typical example, even just because I have been diagnosed with SZA/BP, or schizomania, not BP.