Not being diagnosed as BP II for such a long time in my life was awful, they just kept saying it was severe chronic depression, which is a part of it.

Finally, when I moved to the SW, I got properly diagnosed. At first I was amazed, scared, and didn't want to believe it.

Then after being on Lamictal (mood stablizer) Klonapin (anxiety) and Cymbalta (depression) and Trazadone (insomnia) everything changed, I could see that there was the old me and the new me. I so wish they had diagnosed me earlier in life, I feel, I know I would of done things differently. i still have my triggers and stress, but I handle them better and in a different way.

I tried a few times going off a med or two, and boom, bad idea, the old me was coming back. Won't do that again.

It's a damn shame we don't get diagnosed properly in the beginning. I think now BP is being more reconized, which is good.

Just my 2 cents, Hugs, Nikko