My bipolar disorder symptoms started with hypomania at 17. I didn’t realize this until I sat down and really thought about my teenage years. Many people have their first major episode in their 20’s- mine started earlier. My ex partner had a lot of depression before he had his first major manic/psychotic episode at 22. That was a terrible time for sure. When I think back of what he told me about college- he was definitely depressed for a long time. He told me he thought about suicide when he was a little kid. He didn’t have an episode after that for a long time- then college at 19 and he got depressed and left school.
If you have bipolar disorder, it’s really interesting to write a paragraph about what you remember between the ages of 13-19. What was the first sign you had bipolar and how long did it take from that time for you to get diagnosed?
If you have a child with bipolar disorder, what were their teenage years like?
I wasnt diagnosed until age 31. I wish it had been at 17! The earlier the diagnosis the better. If you’re a teen with bipolar, you’re lucky it was caught early. Now you can decide your future instead of bipolar disorder controlling your future!
When you’re diagnosed early, the world is your oyster. (Odd saying isn’t it!)
Julie
Be skeptical of these diagnoses. Be very very skeptical.
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/156009/why_there_has_been_an_explosion_in_bipolar_diagnoses/?page=entire
From Julie,
Thanks for the link!
I agree with part of what this article says. There is good information here, but there is also incorrect information. The scary thing is that those with true bipolar will read something like this and then say, “I don’t need meds! I’m not sick! It’s all a sham!” Tell that to a parent who has to call the cops on a manic and psychotic child- or the family that has a 24 hour suicide watch on their child.
Manic depression and bipolar disoder are the same thing- and they are real. Anti depressant induced bipolar disorder is unfortunately very, very real as well.
I do appreciate the article’s honesty, but also hope the reader doesn’t confuse opinion with fact.
Julie A. Fast .