Bipolar runs in my family, although only a few of us are actively seeking treatment. Tourettes, OCD and depression run on both sides of the family as well (thank you, genetics).

I went from one psychiatrist to another until I once again dialed a random number in my health provider directory and finally got lucky. I have been seeing her for 5 years now. She immediately diagnosed me with depression, for which I've been taking Zoloft since then. I was drinking a lot, so she didn't even mention the bipolar to me, although she'd recognized it right away. She wanted to make sure that that's what it was though, and to see how much my mood swings were exacerbated by the alcohol. Once I stopped drinking she did diagnose me, and I've been going through treatment for the past year now.

When she diagnosed me, I was depressed for a couple of days, but once I got over that initial sadness and self pitying, I realized that a HUGE burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Just being able to put a name to what seemed like unpredictable and random symptoms, was a very, very big relief.