Before my bipolar diagnosis, I got all these diagnoses:
panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, major depressive disorder recurrent severe, ADHD, borderline personality disorder

It turned out that all of those were just parts of my bipolar. The panic disorder, GAD, insomnia, and ADHD were my hypomanic symptoms. The BPD was my rapid cycling.

Rapid cycling bipolar II was the big picture that no one saw but that FINALLY gave answers to my questions and explained everything. Now I just say I have bipolar because it encompasses everything.

My bipolar II is REALLY severe. I've never held a job more than 7 or so months. Without meds, I would have been dead by suicide by the time I was 18. Without meds that work, I'm in a constant severe mixed state of bipolar, suicidal, having uncontrollable mood swings. Even WITH meds, I can't take care of my son, so he's in daycare full-time.

Right now with meds that are working and with summer, I'm still swinging a few times a week into moderate or severely disabling symptoms, but most days I'm doing fine and able to feel like myself, my REAL self, the me underneath all the mental illness. But that's with my son in daycare. If I had to keep a job and watch my son, I would suicide, without a doubt. I can handle barely any stressors in my life without a complete mental explosion because my bipolar is so bad.