I recommend forgetting completely about the DSM5 and its preposterous archetypes of our incredibly diverse and divergent illnesses, virtually none of which--if you dig deep with people here on PC who live it every day--accurately describe what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. It's a complete joke.

My absolutely genius, Harvard-trained psychiatrist, laughed when I began *****ing about this the other day in his office. He said he did not even own a DSM5, but had told them the last time they asked him to buy one that he would accept it were it on the house--so he could use it as a door stop. He really needs a new door stop.

Bipolar disorder type 1 does what a gorialla does--whatever it wants, whenever it wants. If you understand that, then you understand bipolar disorder.