How long have you been diagnosed?

BP1 for 22 years, am 53 years old
I should be in bed now but can't sleep.
I drank too much and just took 1mg of klonipin to see if it helps.
I have to get up at 8am to leave to go to work...so I hope I get to sleep.
bizi

Since my first visit to an ER in January 2012 (I showed up in full throws of a panic attack. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack). They dug further and I was told I was in a state of mania which led to it.

8 years ago at age 21

Ten years for bipolar 1 dx. (Originally misdiagnosed with major depression and fed SSRI's with no mood stabilizer by General doctor). Disabled since 2009.

I just gave everyone in this thread a hug. I hope we will all have a good day. Or be able to sleep if we are having a lousy day.

31 years ago I was diagnosed with PTSD and MDD. Then several years later after clear failures of ADs, during witch time I was told my failure to get better was my fault, I was told I was bipolar. So about 22 years.

I was diagnosed 4.5 years ago at age 26.

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I was only diagnosed about 6-7 months ago at 28. But looking back I can see that the symptoms have been there for many years.

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Diagnosed Bipolar II (depression and hypomania's) 9 years ago, and Bipolar I 4 years ago after a full-blown manic episode (not my first, looking back). I'm 45 now.

About 14 years ago, when I was still dx'd with depression, I asked my pdoc of the time about Bipolar; he said (in quotes because I'll never forget it) "People are finding Bipolar under every rock these days, any other psychiatrist would have diagnosed you Bipolar a long time ago."

I think he felt proud of himself and the uniquely smart one not to have diagnosed me at that time (he did years later). Meanwhile, I was on low dose AD's which, looking back, sent me into rapid cycling episodes (not rapid cycling anymore since Bipolar tx). Of course there was also situational depression at times, and boatloads of anxiety, and none of this was properly treated (he was supposed to be my therapist as well, but was very unhelpful in that respect). I should have changed pdocs, but I liked his anecdotes...And I figured he knew what he was doing, he was a pdoc after all and I was naïve about these things.

Well, thanks a lot pdoc for putting your ego before my dx and tx.

I can't believe they told you it was your fault for not getting better....
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

8 years ago bp1 when I was 37

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Am 20 right now- was diagnosed with bpII at 17- but I had been showing symptoms for 7 years now and had been visiting a shrink weekly for 3 years before any diagnosis was ever even spoken about. For anything. I was suicidal and they said I had a poor diet and was just overly sensitive.
My first visit with a pdoc and I was diagnosed with BP on the spot! What a difference a change in professionals makes

Absolutely not! I struggled to accept my diagnosis in the beginning, and still come up with every thing in the DSM-5 to diagnose myself with other than BP. With out falter I believe I was misdiagnosed. Even reading this forum and relating to so many experiences I still struggle to believe that I am truly bipolar. And I'm not sure why. I'm not ashamed of my diagnosis, I don't ever talk about it so it's not like I fear social backlash. I just can't believe it.
So no. You are not alone!

Dx bipolar 15 months ago at 24, depression/anxiety since 2010.

You are definitely not alone. I experienced mania after being on SSRIs. Since then, it comes and goes even when I am not taking any. Until the SSRIs I experienced hypomania from time to time. Earlier this year I consulted my pdoc about going off my meds. He reduced them. I later went off the rest of them on my own. My goal was to prove that the meds were causing the symptoms whenever they would arise. I also wanted to prove that when I was stable the meds were working but I was taking so many different kind that they just worked together to balance everything. I believed that I could function without them because I do not have Bipolar Disorder. I almost landed in the hospital. I recently went back to my pdoc and discussed the diagnosis again with charted data. I disputed every fluctuation in my mood. Even with my known history of mood fluctuation and the data from my charts, I just don't want to accept it.

Almost 2 years in August. BPII Mixed. Very, very difficult to come to terms with.

I was diagnosed Bipolar I mixed, with psychotic features when I was 22. I'm 56 now.

I was originally dx'ed when I was 18 but I laughed them off. How could I be BP when I was never happy? I had no knowledge of mixed episodes back then. I didn't believe it until I was rediagnosed at age 25. So four years.

11 yrs ago at 22 years old.

I was diagnosed with depression, and anxiety when inwas 18 because I didn't tell the doctor about the hypersexuality and pacing and all that out of embaressement.

Last July I was diagnosed at bipolar because the doctor knew right away I was manic and that it was a miss diagnosis. My doctor is very good at what he does. He's one of the head psychiatrists at North Western Hospitol here in Chicago so I trust him and it all made sense. He was able to explain to me what different episodes where like and all that. The two hardest parts of the diagnosis where medication compliance and of course , the hardest, coming out and talking about my diagnosis

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Diagnosed 3 months ago after going manic twice last year after two separate antidepressant treatments. I'm 43. Have had depression and anxiety since my 20s.

First diagnosed 14 years ago. Eventually ditched meds and psychiatry. Re-diagnosed a year and a half ago.

Almost 20 years ago. I was 32.

Diagnosed with depression at 10 y.o. and PTSD 18. Suffered with BP symptoms from the beginning but it wasn't until 33 y.o. that was diagnosed with BP. I so am thankful for doctor who finally took into account ALL of my symptoms and history then put together a better treatment plan. However, it took 8 more years of trying everything available to find the right cocktail and therapy combination to function.