Coming from the type of family I came from, it is a wonder that I didn't come out any worse than I did

I smoked pot a few times in college and in my early twenties---until I got manic from it.  I started drinking at age eighteen.  I drank until I got drunk, I did this every weekend.  I was in a sororiety and we either had a party or we knew someone who was having one.  Towards the end of my college days I was starting to worry.  My father was an alcoholic and came from a family of alcoholics.  It does run in families.  

I'm not an alcoholic, I don't do drugs and I do not drink and drive. . .I drove drunk till I was thirty-four when I had my car accident however, I wasn't drinking that night.  I did have four hospital stays.  I was diagnosed with depression.  My doctor, whom I still have today, thought I was schizophrenic.  It turns out I'm bi-polar and I've been on Lithium ever since.  This happened in '86'.  It took nine years to finally get the right diagnosis.

I believe I was bipolar when I was a child.  I had way to much energy and I never slept well.  My mind raced at night and I remember getting up to try to clear my head.

I still have some things to work on---Always room to improve oneself.  I'm doing just that.