bi polar as a child...

I'm wondering if it's possible to be bi polar all your life and not have it diagnosed until you are in your 40's.  Back when I was a child, both before and well into my teens, I had manic and depressive swings.  One minute I was up, the other I was down.  Back in those days, there weren't the psychiatrists and all the knowledge we have now.  I don't even think my mom realized that there some mental health issues with me.

The depression was really bad after I gave birth to my oldest child, flaired up as postpartum depression.  That didn't happen with my youngest though.  Now, I can tell when I'm manic much more so then when I'm depressed.

[Mangoes73]

Yes. Think it's happened to a lot of us. I read somewhere that on average, it's takes ten years to get a proper diagnosis from the time you first seek help.
And I remember definitely having the symptoms my whole life.

[ally258]

I just recently was diagnosed with bipolar, but I know that it has been there since I was a teenager, just was never treated, I am 37 now and got diagnosed 2 months ago. I know if they would of found it years ago my life would of been completely different, so the answer to your question is yes, I hope that helps

[Xila31]

I believe I've had it all my life since childhood, but I think whether or not it gets caught or diagnosed all depends on circumstance and not really anything to due with symptoms.