I have been limited by my symptoms. Firstly, it took 30 years before I saw the pattern. Every 8 years or so I would go down for 6 months and have a breakdown, then it would take 18 months to get back to level. Over 40 years, I spent 20% actively battling severe anxiety and insomnia.
In between those years, I would work my tail off hoping to never have to visit the dark place again. I graduated at the top of my class with a degree in electronics technology and was interviewed by the NSA who wanted to hire me to travel with the executive branch and encrypt their communications. (I had served 3 years as a Military Policeman in the Army and set production records at my job at the steel mill). I had to decline the job because I was hiding a neuro psychiatric illness. I got straight As in the mathematics program at a local college. I aced 4 levels of calculus and a couple of 300 level math courses. A computer program I wrote was used by the head of the math department to discover a flaw in the most prevalent microprocessor of the day. He was featured in Time magazine. It cost the manufacturer 4-600 million in stock value. He offered to allow me to complete my math degree from home. Instead, I dropped out because I was having another meltdown and I needed to concentrate on staying employed at my day job. By the time I learned enough to be able to assert control over my illness, there wasn't enough time left to pursue higher goals. Still there is something to be said for aiming for the stars and falling short and only attaining the moon. I'm having the best years of my life. Not sure for how long, but I am thankful.