Welcome to Psych Central and the bipolar forum, MsManicMondays! I'm glad you joined us. I've been here on PC for a long time and find it a great place to learn, share, get support, and make friends. I hope you will, too.

I'm so extremely sorry about your brother! It is a horrible thing that happened to him, you and your family, and his friends. It is traumatic to have a loved one taken so suddenly and so young. My family and I know a little about such things, though in our case it was from depression (suicide) and cancer.

I came and went to various doctors in my youth, and experienced many issues relating to past manias and depressions, but wasn't properly diagnosed until I was 32. I didn't accept the diagnosis until I was 34.