I was told I had depression for 14 years until I got sectioned - it was bipolar

Kimberley Atkinson had been struggling with her mental health since her teenage years, but it wasn't until she was sectioned that doctors finally diagnosed her with bipolar disorder after 14 years of misdiagnosis. She described depressive episodes that left her "sinking into a dark hole," unable to get out of bed and face the day, and erratic behavior including delusions, rapid speech, irritability, and even believing her moods caused bad weather.

It wasn't until she was being treated for bipolar disorder in a psychiatric ward that doctors realized she had been misdiagnosed with depression for so long. Professor Danny Smith, chair of psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, called for better screening by healthcare professionals to catch bipolar disorder earlier, as it can often be missed due to the focus on diagnosing depression correctly. Studies suggest that up to one in five people with severe and recurrent depression could actually have bipolar disorder.

Kimberley's diagnosis was a relief, but she still struggled with the overwhelming chaos of her life before her condition was understood. Now stable on medication, she hopes for better screening to prevent others from experiencing such a long and difficult journey to an accurate diagnosis. Similar cases exist, such as Jacqui Armstrong, who spent 30 years being treated for depression before finally receiving a bipolar II diagnosis during her final hospital admission.

Experts agree that bipolar disorder is significantly underdiagnosed, with many people waiting nearly a decade between first reporting symptoms and getting a diagnosis.