That statistic is depressing, but I do think the disease can be managed with medication and therapy. It's when people don't comply with meds and therapy that things get worse. My grandfather had bipolar 1, and my mom has been diagnosed with bipolar 2. I have depression, but I have sometimes wondered if it is actually bipolar 2. Mom's "up" episodes do not involve happiness. She just gets mean and irritable.

I would say more, but I can't figure out how to do the trigger warning.