[James Cadden]

Does bipolar severity decrease with age

I'm female so that presents its own difficulties as we get older. I never got diagnosed until I was 43, even though I can look back and see things I did that were most defo bp related. They weren't bad enough to get me in real trouble or to go to the hosp but I can defo tell now that it was there all along. So for me, hormones are probably partly to blame for the worsening.
I"m interested as well in what others have to say on this subject.

[skymonk]

I agree w/emomom. I think hormones&pre-menopause symptoms mimic so many of bipolar's features that it's hard to tell what exactly is making you feel it's getting worse because you're getting older. I do think I was worse at 32 than I was at 19 when I was initially diagnosed. It may be different in every person...really don't know.

[Berries]

That is a really good question!

I hope people post on this!!!

You'd think it'd get better, not because of age, but because of medication and life experience.
As you age, you have the opportunities to learn how to manage your illness. Therapists, in-patient & out-patient programs have classes and groups to teach bipolars how to manage symptoms. You learn that stress is a HUGE no-no! So, with age you can find out what jobs are low-stress for you. Overtime, you can figure out what is too much and what is too little as far as occupational and social activity level. Basically, you have had the time to experiment and find out what works for you and what doesn't to make your illness manageable.
You also have had the time to try out different medications and find out what works best for you.

So, you'd think that if you got treatment young, by the time you were older, things would be better.
But, this I am pretty sure about. If you are triggered into an episode, be it depression or mania, not matter how old you are it BITES!

I hope people that are in this situation--DXed young and are older now, will post!!!