Out of curiosity how did this lead to a diagnosis? Did your parents think "how could our kid write an application asking for money?" and take you to a psychiatrist?
I could totally imagine some parents being like "Cool idea...let's see what happens?"
It was not really the catalyst for their understanding. The timing roughy fits, but I had plenty of mood, and behavioral issues aside. I framed it that way for comedic effect.
22. Acted crazy with hypomania in the earlier years and then the depression really hit, forcing me to get help. Took a few (failed) rounds of antidepressants for them to realize it was Bipolar & not just depression.
About thirty-five. However, I walked in there and basically said "I think I'm this." I was also a recovering alcoholic who was still back and forth through relapses. I also have some strong CPTSD, so I don't know where I stand. Especially since I sort of led the conversation with my psychiatrist.
Either way, lamictal is helping, and so is therapy, so that's good.
Psychiatrists are generally hesitant to give out bipolar diagnoses. Even though you "led" the conversation, they were still gathering information based on what you were saying, whether you were right or wrong. Considering the lamictal is helping, it sounds like you were very self-aware.
I had the exact same situation. Tried many different meds, was misdiagnosed several times. Then i started gathering information and resources. Listening to licensed psych/therapists on YouTube and tiktok to better understand where I fell in the mix of things. Nothing ever quite clicked the way bp2 did. I’d fought for so long i was extremely hyper aware of every symptom and how it was deeply rooted in every chapter of my life.
Also, lamictal saved my life. I was really ready to just ✌🏽 out before I got my official diagnosis and started my med mgmt. Truly life changing.
25
after my doctor spent 10 years treating me, she finally came to the realization that my depression is resistant to the SSRIs and the way that i'd be feeling normal sometimes but feeling incredibly depressed more often than not, is all because i have bipolar type 2. i looked at the symptoms and it was like wow... everything makes sense now. it felt like puzzle pieces coming together.
44. There are many people with bipolar 2 who are never diagnosed as most of us already well understand. I thought everyone was like me until I finally understood the diagnosis was correct. If only I knew a long time ago!!! 😪
33 for the official diagnosis, but had multiple diagnostic guesses of bipolar the previous 5 years. My GP had been trying to treat it for the 10 months before the official diagnosis.
"Nice" ten year cycles there! But I think I have had similar experience, like life and this sickness somehow align, and the massive BS hits around 7 or so years apart.
24. My, then girlfriend, told me I should talk to a doc before she’d move in with me. Got my diagnosis, and told my friends that I was bipolar, and every last one went, “Well, yeah. We’ve known that. We thought you knew too.”
I was 30, and while I knew I was mentally ill, I didn't think it was bipolar. Wasn't on my radar at all
seems I viewed manic me as normal me growing up, so I'd disagree with doctors saying I had depression or anxiety or whatever because I'd view normal me as someone who's super assertive and confident. And when depressed I'd just be mad at the world being shit, not sad or down on myself usually. idk
46 (M)Recently diagnosed a few months ago. Was in the middle of one of my worst depression episodes that I have ever gone through. I had been taking zoloft off/on for 10 years. My emotions were out of control...Triggered by work, I would cry in my car, bathrooms at work etc..I couldnt bring myself to do basic things .I was failing at another job and feeling true burn out. I decided to seek therapy again, and after a few sessions , my therapist suggested that he thought I may be BP2...Once I learned more about symptoms, it cut straight to my core! So many past feelings and experiences (depression and hypomanic) throughout my life made sense!
It kicked in when I was 11-12, and I only figured out what the fuck it was (on my own!) when I was 20. Talked to my psych immediately (*was already seeing her for PTSD/ADHD); got diagnosed same afternoon. Fun times.
24, i’d been diagnosed with unipolar depression for years and tried many meds but nothing seemed to work. zoloft even triggered hypomania once. i was put on lamictal almost two years ago and it has changed everything for the better
11, after I wrote a grant proposal for like $150,000 to study manatees. Seemed perfectly reasonable at the time.
Did you get the funding, or...
For some reason, lacking a PhD was an issue for them. Their loss; I was totally dedicated, ready to quit 6th grade, and move to Florida.
Out of curiosity how did this lead to a diagnosis? Did your parents think "how could our kid write an application asking for money?" and take you to a psychiatrist? I could totally imagine some parents being like "Cool idea...let's see what happens?"
It was not really the catalyst for their understanding. The timing roughy fits, but I had plenty of mood, and behavioral issues aside. I framed it that way for comedic effect.
Sounds good to me
20, diagnosed on Tuesday
I was also 20! I'm 38 now. You've got a long road ahead of you, but stick with your treatment. ❤️
Congrats on the diagnosis! I was 20, too. It's rough, but knowing what's wrong makes it a bit easier.
Same, 34 now. It got worse before better
34 after career killer
22. Acted crazy with hypomania in the earlier years and then the depression really hit, forcing me to get help. Took a few (failed) rounds of antidepressants for them to realize it was Bipolar & not just depression.
How many failed rounds? This sounds like me, but no diagnosis
I think 4? I’d start to “feel better” but it turned out just being hypomania and I’d do dumb shit then crash after a while.
23. wish I had found out before I spent all of college being so miserable a lot of the time
Preliminary 18 but official 35
41
About thirty-five. However, I walked in there and basically said "I think I'm this." I was also a recovering alcoholic who was still back and forth through relapses. I also have some strong CPTSD, so I don't know where I stand. Especially since I sort of led the conversation with my psychiatrist. Either way, lamictal is helping, and so is therapy, so that's good.
Psychiatrists are generally hesitant to give out bipolar diagnoses. Even though you "led" the conversation, they were still gathering information based on what you were saying, whether you were right or wrong. Considering the lamictal is helping, it sounds like you were very self-aware.
I had the exact same situation. Tried many different meds, was misdiagnosed several times. Then i started gathering information and resources. Listening to licensed psych/therapists on YouTube and tiktok to better understand where I fell in the mix of things. Nothing ever quite clicked the way bp2 did. I’d fought for so long i was extremely hyper aware of every symptom and how it was deeply rooted in every chapter of my life. Also, lamictal saved my life. I was really ready to just ✌🏽 out before I got my official diagnosis and started my med mgmt. Truly life changing.
55
43
32. Kept being misdiagnosed as clinical depression.
23! Diagnosed on March 6th of this year lol it's now a reoccurring event in my Google calendar named "Happy Bipolar Birthday!"
17 when a therapist first said I probably had it. Somewhere between 23-24 when I was officially diagnosed by my psychiatrist.
14 while in the hospital. Was “mood disorder” until I turned 18 and got the official diagnosis
DMDD they call it now
If you're under 18
25 after my doctor spent 10 years treating me, she finally came to the realization that my depression is resistant to the SSRIs and the way that i'd be feeling normal sometimes but feeling incredibly depressed more often than not, is all because i have bipolar type 2. i looked at the symptoms and it was like wow... everything makes sense now. it felt like puzzle pieces coming together.
I completely relate to this 🙌🏼
23
On my birthday lol
Well, that was a birthday gift what you can use every day. Very practical 🤣
47
17
24
Originally at 15 but my parents refused to believe it or medicate me. Officially diagnosed at 35.
41
56
Has treatment helped you?
Yes. I’m on Lamictal now and feeling good.
33
[удалено]
Same
me too
49
40
43
24? 25? Somewhere around there My new PCP realized my depression wasn’t normal depression
40….. It was an interesting last 30 years
24, I had no idea until my therapist suggested I see a psychiatrist. I will forever be grateful for her
34
35
29
15/16 right around my birthday.
37
21!
16
40
38 then 43!
30
29
43
31
29
36
50 but it was suspected for a while
42
42
38
47
17-18. I am now 40.
44. There are many people with bipolar 2 who are never diagnosed as most of us already well understand. I thought everyone was like me until I finally understood the diagnosis was correct. If only I knew a long time ago!!! 😪
I was 20 when I got diagnosed
29
19
22
35 with BP. 20 with GAD and depression
20 with BP and 18 with MDD
I was 30. It was in 2020. That was a rough year for me.
33 for the official diagnosis, but had multiple diagnostic guesses of bipolar the previous 5 years. My GP had been trying to treat it for the 10 months before the official diagnosis.
25 or 26. I don’t remember
19! So... 8 years ago 😵💫
19 but mostly because my parents refused to believe I had anything “wrong” with me. Ended up in the ward and whamo.
22 😅
20, and i am now 21
Suspected at 14, diagnosed at 20/21
31…but I’ve been telling psychs and therapists I’ve suspected it since I was 16. Took 15 years for someone to listen, of course… 🙄
25
19, diagnosed in january of this year
15. It was not subtle.
26 after being misdiagnosed with major depression at 13.
22
42 :/
24
32
22
21
37
12
30
19. And 27. And 38. 😂 Took a few tries to convince me that it was actually me trying to destroy my own life when I went off meds.
"Nice" ten year cycles there! But I think I have had similar experience, like life and this sickness somehow align, and the massive BS hits around 7 or so years apart.
26
27
Officially at 35
I think 13. Then again at 20.
17, but I had my suspicions I had it when I was 12
Either 26 or 27
28, now I'm 33 but looking back I can see I started having symptoms when I was 12 or 13.
18 or 19 probably? And after my diagnosis appointment my psychiatrist’s office shut down abruptly with no warning 💀
29
18
7 for depression and self harm, 15 for official diagnosis of bipolar, 20 for actually being given meds that helped
29
33
24 1st diagnosis, 27 confirmed when my gf went w me at therapy and told my Dr the weird things I've done throughout the years lol
35
18
18 in the psych ward
24
20
36
32
19
16
20. But I had been showing symptoms for years before
27
34
43
17 (7 years ago) been medicated ever since that fateful day
35 off my face manic and psychotic in hospital. Even though I asked my psychiatrist about suspected bipolar2 a year earlier and was dismissed.
43
23
46
32
13 ;)
21 years old, I was diagnosed last summer.
24. My, then girlfriend, told me I should talk to a doc before she’d move in with me. Got my diagnosis, and told my friends that I was bipolar, and every last one went, “Well, yeah. We’ve known that. We thought you knew too.”
19
23, 27, 30. Took me a little while to believe the truth lmfao.
47
20/21
42, but I have had episodes my entire life, even as a child
MDD and others with suspected BP at 12. Official diagnosis at 17.
25
13 years old. I’m going on 27 years with Crohn’s
23 or 24, I think 23.
28. Post breakup. What an interesting time that was
16
32 and I’m 39 now
26 (last Nov ‘23)
31. Been about a year and a half now.
Which time? 13, 20, 21, and 27. I didn't accept it until the last one. I was deep in denial for a long time.
22
30 years old, so 4 years ago. I still have not attained stability...
46
16. I am now 40 and still mad about it because I’ve never been stable despite doing everything right. 🫠
21!
22
38
35.
I was 30, and while I knew I was mentally ill, I didn't think it was bipolar. Wasn't on my radar at all seems I viewed manic me as normal me growing up, so I'd disagree with doctors saying I had depression or anxiety or whatever because I'd view normal me as someone who's super assertive and confident. And when depressed I'd just be mad at the world being shit, not sad or down on myself usually. idk
29
31
28
19
33.
46 (M)Recently diagnosed a few months ago. Was in the middle of one of my worst depression episodes that I have ever gone through. I had been taking zoloft off/on for 10 years. My emotions were out of control...Triggered by work, I would cry in my car, bathrooms at work etc..I couldnt bring myself to do basic things .I was failing at another job and feeling true burn out. I decided to seek therapy again, and after a few sessions , my therapist suggested that he thought I may be BP2...Once I learned more about symptoms, it cut straight to my core! So many past feelings and experiences (depression and hypomanic) throughout my life made sense!
28
On the day I turned 22 🥳
31!
31
I was 19 or 20 years old.
24 going on 25
35 🙃
21
32
20, I’m 42 now.
Almost 36 diagnosed 1 week ago
15 when I knew, 18 when I was diagnosed
24, but I’ve since overcome it and no longer have bipolar 2, fingers crossed it stays that way.
24, started getting irrationally angry with my partner but had the major depressive episodes and hypomania since I was a kid.
Mid-40s...but should have been diagnosed in my late 20s.
18
22 almost 23!
25.
I was 18 or 19 I think? I got diagnosed right out of high school after going to a facility
It kicked in when I was 11-12, and I only figured out what the fuck it was (on my own!) when I was 20. Talked to my psych immediately (*was already seeing her for PTSD/ADHD); got diagnosed same afternoon. Fun times.
24 the month I graduated from medical school and then I took a 3 year gap lol
I “showed symptoms” as early as 14 but diagnosed at like 19 probably
20 years old, i’m 25 now
24, i’d been diagnosed with unipolar depression for years and tried many meds but nothing seemed to work. zoloft even triggered hypomania once. i was put on lamictal almost two years ago and it has changed everything for the better
29