[DragonflyK]

I'm new to the forum and just wanted to say, "hello." I was diagnosed with BP last fall after dealing with depression for 10 years. I wonder was I BP all along, and what I thought was the "real me" was actually manic.

Or is it possible that some major stress I experienced triggered the BP? Just trying to piece things together some, although I'm not sure it really matters?

[Miss Laura]

Hey DragonflyK,

I have just been diagnoised too well September 2010

I am still trying to figure your question out myself... so I cant help you there.

All I can say is your definately not alone.

Hope you find your answers soon

[blueoctober]

Welcome DragonflyK; I hope you find this site supportive.

[PT52]

Hi DragonflyK and welcome to PC. Here is a place where you can ask those questions and hear about the journeys others have taken. I was also diagnosed with depression (and ADD and anxiety) and was only diagnosed BP after prozac triggered a hypomanic phase and I had a GP who actually paid attention.

It's natural to want answers, and it helps to know the past so that you can figure out the future. I hope you find some answers here - I know you will find friends, love and acceptance.

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by DragonflyK

... I wonder was I BP all along, and what I thought was the "real me" was actually manic.

Hi DragonflyK. Welcome to PC.

Bipolar typically becomes more severe over time, and frequently takes a long time to diagnose correctly. Genetic predisposition and life stressors play a part in whether, when and how it will show up.

As you experienced, it is often depressive symptoms alone that cause us to seek help.
The fact that you didn't identify any manic or hypomanic episodes over the last 10 years doesn't necessarily mean you weren't being influenced (mildly) by your biological make-up. I have asked myself the same question, and concluded that I was undoubtedly influenced for much of my life by that dizzy, frenetic, excessive, distractable, impulsive biochemical cocktail that we call hypomania.

A diagnosis is just that: a diagnosis. It doesn't mean that the illness hasn't been there all along - just not severe enough on the mania end to ring loud alarm bells.

A pragmatic question related to the above is "have I been making my illness prognosis worse by not treating it differently until now?". Unfortunately I don't know the answer to that, and the question is most relevant to the thousands of bipolar people who haven't yet received an accurate diagnosis.

I hope you find your answers soon.

TS

[Trippin2.0]

I'm absolutely sure you'll love it here♥

[sugahorse1]

HI and welcome.
There will be a lot of thoughts and questions you will come up. I have a lot to learn still myself. My BP is not genetic; It was brought to light through some sever life-stressors. And to a certain extent a depression that had lingered and been left untreated for +-6 years.
I can now in hindsight see that there were hypomanic moments within the depressive times, but I thought they were just a "happy" version of me.
I would never have thought I have a problem or that I needed help