The highs and lows of bipolar disorder are an almost universal experience among those of us who live with it. Beyond that standard symptomology, the disease is extremely and notoriously unpredictable. It is experienced over a lifetime, differently from person to person.For me, the onset was a severe depression at age 19, followed by a hypomanic period. I went undiagnosed however, for over 25 years. My episodes were comparatively minor until I was in my late thirties. The hypomanic episodes became became noticeable and dangerous. I was urged to see a psychiatrist but refused. It culminated in a full blown manic episode which wrecked my finances. I was diagnosed bipolar 1 (formerly manic-depression), the same diagnosis my mother was given in her thirties. Things did not improve. Two years later, after three mixed manic episodes with psychosis, and two lengthy psychiatric hospital stays, I began responding to medicine. I’ve not had any severe manic episodes, though I’m occasionally affected by depressions. This pattern was very similar to that experienced by the actress, Margot Kidder. I consider her to be a kind of soulmate. But that is how she and I lived with bipolar disorder. Think of your pattern. Share if you like. This thread is posted in memory of Margot.