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. This is actually a very common time to have a first mood swing. 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. So his first major depression was at age 19- but the minor stuff was already there. I didn’t have any depression until I was 19.
If you have bipolar disorder, it’s really interesting to write a paragraph about what you remember between the ages of 13-20. 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 had my first hypomania at 17 and was finally diagnosed at 31. Not cool. I wish I had been diagnosed sooner!
Julie
PS: This is all about adult onset bipolar disorder. It’s different when a child is younger. They symptoms can be different and many health care professionals are more cautious with treatment.
I am 33 and have just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I had a severe manic episode last fall that required hospitalization. It occurred three months after the birth of my fourth child and was triggered by the realization that I was abused as a child. A few weeks ago I had a second manic episode which nearly required hospitalization but ended up being treated with medication, counseling, etc. (Obviously it was much easier to catch and treat the second time around when I was already under the care of a psychiatrist). I can remember having severe depression once in college (didn’t get out of bed for about a month), and minor depressions after the births of my first two children. I can remember some elevated, energetic times throughout adolescence and early adulthood, but nothing like the two manias I’ve experienced this year. I am just now trying to come to terms with this diagnosis while at the same time working through the effects of the child abuse.
I was the victim of verbal physical and sexual abuse at a young age but I tried to cover it up I don’t think that’s what triggered my emotional wreckage it was being falsely accused of wrongdoings I hadn’t done but not being able to understand what went on. As a teen it tried to cripple me keeping it bottled up until more and more things happened in my life that put me in a clutch. I started to do other things to pacify my self image and it worked until I couldn’t run anymore I had to face my demons and get diagnosed I had a neurologist and the test they gave me showed me the damage that had been done in my subconscious and to my inner self I grew up straight but people that knew about the situation would hold it against me. Being called “fag” or gay always struck a nerve with me and it always put a chip on my shoulder knowing this wasn’t true I learned to handle this once and for all. I was just diagnosed with depression /PTSD after a few car accidents including a hit and run my life was at a crisis now as a 30 yr old husband and now father I’m able to voice my pain to others as a guide to inner strength hope it works
Hello David, Wow! Hearing someone so open and giving about their past is a real boost to my day. I know it will help others as well. It’s especially important that men such as yourself speak out and offer hope for others in your situation. Thanks for sharing your experience and for showing others that stability is possible no matter what you experienced in the past! Julie