I just feel the need to express myself, even though you don't know me from Adam's housecat. Some of you will say I'm nuts, and I'm not trying to reach you. I'm reaching out to the "younger" crowd that are in need. I truly feel your pain because I suffer through it daily myself. However, fight this garbage because you have your life ahead of you. and you also have something as an asset, or perhaps your toolbox if you will, that I didn't when young. What, is it you ask? It's the gift of knowledge. The knowledge of knowing you have this crap. Use that knowledge to gain every advantage you can to better prepare and plan your life, because you sure as hell don't want to END up like me. Me you ask? Yeah, totally losing it in middle age with nothing. Absolutely nothing. I screwed up everything I got my hands on through the years as far as jobs and women are concerned. I'm a prime example what you must absolutely avoid like the plague. Yeah, I managed, albeit extremely volatile at times, without being diagnosed, but when it finally hit me upside the head like a brick, well, that's why I'm writing this. My goodness, I don't want anyone on this planet to go through or be at mentally where I have been the past few years.

So, use the knowledge you have to plan better and smarter, so that if that brick does hit, you won't be a terd floating in a toilet that's waiting to be flushed like myself.

[kaliope]

thank you for sharing your story lunatic fringe. i too try to impress upon the younger generation the importance of getting and sticking to treatment so they dont end of wasting 30 years of their life like i did. it took a massive breakdown and hospitalization against my will in my 40's for me to finally get on meds and get therapy. my life has completely turned around and i have much success but so much mess to work thru now. i often wonder how much different things would be if i had followed thru with treatment in my 20's.

Awww thanks lunatic fringe, for I too am a living example of what not to be come, a shining example to avoid at all costs. I'm 47 and been DX'd 3 years, but still discovering more of myself that was left unexplored. I now have all the keys that I should've had 30 years ago. Such is life. The important thing is that we now know, and to pick up where we are and to progress forward.

[Victoria'smom]

Lunatic Fringe your life isn't to late to find someone maybe have the family you want. Yes the person will be younger but you can find things you enjoy. Your life isn't over because you're middle age and now you have the knowledge. You may look at your life like wtf but others don't. There's a reason why thinks never work out even though it sucks.

Everyone needs to run and build their coping skills ask for help as much as possible. Succeeding is great any age but looking back from your hurdles leads to the greatest growth. It takes time for bp DX to settle in, sometimes a lifetime. Whether you're 7 or 60 when it sinks in you can still lead a productive life.

[~Christina]

Well said my friend

So many of us got our label well into life, my own at age 43.

We have a lot more baggage to wade through. But we do it as you said, hopefully it will help someone get help sooner rather than later.