How long have I had this gift?

At my birth my mother tells the story that the doctor pointed out an extra earlobe on me. As the legend continues to get a life of its own, he then tells her, "That usually means there's some other things wrong with him that are insidious."

So the story grew and the third ear lobe became a third ear. That wasn't good enough, thanks to "A Big Fat Greek Wedding." The legend grew and my removed appendage went from an earlobe to an ear. 

Aunt Voula: [to Ian's parents] Now, you are family. Okay. All my life, I had a lump at the back of my neck, right here. Always, a lump. Then I started menopause and the lump got bigger from the "hormonees." It started to grow. So I go to the doctor, and he did the bio... the b... the... the bios... the... b... the "bobopsy." Inside the lump he found teeth and a spinal cord. Yes. Inside the lump was my twin. 

My point? I have no idea how long I have had this bipolar disorder? When I let my defenses down, and wear the label of having a mental illness, I think I have had  I polar disorder for a very long time.

I'm going to share symptoms and then my experiences with those symptoms so that others who feel something in them is different will find out quicker than the average person with this illness find out. The average time is 13.5 years. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jun/27/bipolar-disorder-diagnosis-survey and theatre is a lot of pain during those times, by the diagnosed and the collateral damage.