People with bipolar disorder, on average, suffer 10 years before receiving treatment and only 49% of bipolar individuals receive treatment.
The average age of American bipolar disorder onset is 25 years old
83% of bipolar cases are considered severe.
More than 66% of people with bipolar disorder have one or more relatives with bipolar disorder or clinical depression.
Bipolar individuals’ average bipolar episodes last 3 – 6 months.
The bipolar suicide rate is 60 times higher than that of the general public and one in five people with bipolar disorder commits suicide.
Bipolar disorder is the 4th-highest reason for disability.
200,000 people with bipolar disorder are homeless.
69% of bipolar patients are mis-diagnosed at least 3.5 times.
10% of bipolar disorder patients have onset of symptoms in their 40s-50s.
Except for side effects, 90% of bipolar patients are satisfied with their meds.
Adults who earned high or top school grades are 4X more likely to develop bipolar disorder than their peers.
80% of those with bipolar disorder have at least one bipolar family member.
Following the first bipolar episode is a 90% chance of recurrence.
Bipolar disorder is more common in high achievers than the general population.
People with bipolar disorder live 9.2 years less than the average 78 years.
50% of bipolar individuals abuse drugs or alcohol.
35% of people with bipolar disorder are obese and are 2X as likely to die of heart disease, diabetes, stroke.
Sources are WebMD, International Bipolar Foundation, and the CDC
The Dopamine Queen 
My mom had it u r correct and I am a sever case since I was a 6 years old child had ADD Bipolar disorder as a teen OCD and Dissociation plus trauma, lol I am a waking pharmacy. I am doing pretty good most days with combination of meds but more so with the help of Jesus in my life. Just wanted to share. Hope is ok.
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Thank you for being willing to share. I think the more people share, the more it will help reduce stigma.
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Great post on BPD – lots of facts without histrionics. It’s exactly what we Polars need! Life isn’t about wonderfully euphoric highs when we get loads done (as some would suggest), coupled with under-the-duvet periods. It’s a hell of a lot more scary on the other side of the statistics.
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Forgot to say – love your butterfly image.X
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fascinating, thank you.
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Fascinating
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Very compelling group of statistics. I’m always curious to see how my own story stacks up to others. Thanks for putting these on your blog.
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Let’s put the light on this. More people are beginning to understand, but we’ve still got a ways to go. thank you.
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Thanks for this. I was interested to read that some other people have late onset as I was not diagnosed until my mid forties
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Love/Hate these facts. Powerful reminder.
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