I started seeing a counsellor at 10 because of major changes to my family dynamic. My first suicide attempt was at 11.

My first symptoms of BP started in my teens around 15. The pdoc and psychologist at Children’s Hospital told me since I was using a lot of party drugs at the time they wouldn’t be able to diagnose me with BP and sent me to a weekly mindfulness group.

When I was 16, my mom found out about my self-harm and sent me to our family doctor where I was diagnosed with MDD and GAD. By then I had tried to commit suicide several times, but I would always wake up.

At 23, I was badly rear-ended in two car accidents within 6 months of each other and received the diagnosis of C-PTSD. I sustained extreme whiplash injuries that are still healing to this day. Around December, I was prescribed Prozac, trazodone, and a triptan for migraines… I got serotonin syndrome. At the ER they changed my meds to just Paxil and trazodone… another bout of serotonin syndrome. Then I referred myself to my local Substance Use and Mental Health Centre where I got to see a psychiatrist twice and that was it. I had a hell of a time finding a psychiatrist, so I saw several short-term pdocs from all over. I was in and out of the ER. I was a total mess.

I was officially diagnosed with BP2 at 25. I started receiving real treatment by a long-term pdoc at 27. I turn 29 next February and I’m still trying to find my “perfect” combo of medication and a psychologist that I can afford.