Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I've been struggling with depression and anxiety for years now (I'm only 22) but recently I've started to think that I may have bipolar disorder. Both my father and my father's mother have been diagnosed as bipolar. I've screened positive on every online quiz I've taken. As I've learned more about the disorder, and I've come to realize that it would explain a LOT. I really need help because my symptoms are taking over my life and interfering with work and relationships.

I won't go into more detail here because I'd really like to ask what steps others have taken to get a diagnosis. Did you speak with your regular doctor first (I know they need to rule out a physical cause) or a therapist? What happened next? What sort of medical tests were needed (i.e. to check for a thyroid problem)? How long did it take to find out what was wrong?

Thanks for taking the time to read and for any help!