I was recently diagnosed as bipolar after a lifetime of counseling for depression, anxiety, and ptsd. My new doctor has added Topimax to my Effexor XR and Xanax and I don't feel anything yet. I never thought of myself as manic but she said my "anger" could be the mania. I am normally not an angry person and I don't drink much but when I drink (in past year) I have been violent and I never used to be. I have been trying to research bipolar disorder because if I do have it, I am more than willing to get treatment, but if she is wrong, I don't want to waste my time! I do believe I have all the other problems but could I suddenly develop bipolar disorder at age 40??? I've pretty much been emotionally dead and just now back in counseling after year and half of avoiding it.