thinking about it, being diagnosed young has it's benifits (at least for me)

- I didn't really know what I wanted in life, and I didn't have any plans set up (meaning I didn't lose anything)

my family didn't like me before my diagnoses, so I didn't lose them either- because I never really had them.

I didn't have any friends (or at least solid friends), so didn't lose them

sure I lost out on education and work, but what i'm saying is, for me personally, it would have been worse if I was diagnosed at a later stage- as I'd have lost more.

this is how I see it.

[sonjaward809]

I was also diagnosed young, I was 17. To me the positive part is I got to know what's wrong with me at such a young age. I've had some serious issues though over the past few years because of decisions I've made .. but I've overcome them now. I focus on trying to keep my sanity in check now. Lol. So I can't say it helped me not lose things over the years (I'm 24) but it did open my eyes to why I acted so different than others. Being diagnosed young can be beneficial, like the way you see it. I've lost quite a bit over the years by being stubborn and not adhering to my meds, but I consider them lessons learned.

[Tucson]

Symptoms started at an early age. If I was playing baseball, instead of paying attention as an outfielder, I would be doing cartwheels during that time. I missed all the balls that had come my way. As I got older, depression became dominant. By the time I was in my twenties, I had periods of severe depression. I had to take time from work over this. Now depression comes more frequently. I also have been hypomanic to which caused its share of problems. One day while I was working on a very important project, I found myself standing up and going shopping during work. I thought that would be a neat thing to do. My boss called me and asked me where I was. Apparently I missed an important meeting that I already knew about. I also played allot of tag with cars on the road. It would have been much better if I was diagnosed at an early age. I then could do something about it. People at that time of my life probably thought I was flaky. But back then, there was not the understanding of this MI. Also there was not the meds we have today.

[Skeezyks]

I've often wondered, if I had received any kind of mental health care when I was young, would my life have turned out to be less of a train wreck? It's difficult to know because, back when I was young, mental illness was considered something to be ashamed of & there were almost no services available. In the whole scheme of things, perhaps it was just as well I was left to twist in the wind, as the saying goes.

[pirilin]

Diagnosed at 61 and very happy about it.

I've have lived a semi-normal life with triumps and defeats, like the "normals".
Married three times, each lasting more than ten years and the present one we
has been together for twenty seven years. Of course, there has been some duality at some point.

Have three "normal" kids. Have never worked for anybody, and have survived to be 68.
Have never carried any stigma (and I still don't). Never new I was sick. I was just different.
And I still like it. I've done things than the really rich don't dare.
I'm very happy to be blissfully alien to my condition.

Every time I fallen, bounce back. It takes some time often, but I come back.
I'm conviced that the medicines have being more harmful than beneficial.
The deepest depressions have being under treatment.
Had, and still have very good friends. All knowing that I was crazy. I was the only one that didn't know.
When I told them about it, they told me to "fire that doctor". He should have known from the beginning. Hahaha.

This is my story. Not necessarily can be applied to everyone. But Even if I could, I would change very little. And the "normals" also have regrets.

Live life to the fullest. There's only one. You will be happy at the end.

[still_crazy]

im trying to figure out a way to exit mental health, inc. the only 'benefit' ive gotten from being diagnosed at a young(ish) age is a hefty dose of disillusionment, at around the same age that many of my "high achieving" acquaintances are getting labeled/diagnosed and medicated.