I'm still "officially" diagnosed with BP-NOS. I used to feel like it was a consolation prize - "you're not that bad but you're definitely not normal! Here, have this lovely NOS as a parting gift!"

Over time, I've been able to come to some realizations. First, the DSM isn't definitive. It's the best we've got at this point, but it is far, far from perfect. And some stuff in it was essentially pulled out of a hat. There's no real medical reason that at least four days is the magic number to qualify something as a hypomanic episode. They just chose that by consensus. That's the first reason I was diagnosed with NOS; my euphoric hypomanic episodes typically only last two or three days.

The second realization is that diagnosis is a human process, and thus flawed. Questions don't get asked, stuff gets missed. That's the second reason I was diagnosed with NOS; my wife and I didn't think to tell the psychiatrist about all the times that I was angry and irritable and was so keyed up I felt like putting my head through a window. Those times would last for weeks, which is why I've now figured out I actually have BP2.

End point - your doctor believes you're in distress enough to give you a diagnosis. She's human, the process involves a lot of art, and the diagnostic system is imperfect. So focus instead on looking after yourself instead.

You have bipolar disorder. This is not an easy road, but if you can accept it and focus on your self-care you'll do well.