Burt,
It was called manic depressive disorder back then. It wasn't until 1980 that the term bipolar disorder was introduced.
The other reason you may have had a difficult journey is that it wasn't until around 1980 that there was a drastic change in perspective regarding mental health disorders. It was around that time that a bio-medical approach was substituted for the psychodynamic conceptualization.
You were at the beginning of some major changes.....
Indeed.
I'm glad that we are where we are now.
Collectively, each and every human being is growing on several different fronts and dimensions at the same time.
My illness pushed me head-long into many spiritual chasms and unknown dangers until I cried out to ' the universe ' and got some answers.
How well are you acquainted with:
Grof, S. & Grof, C. (Eds.) (1989). Spiritual emergency: When personal transformation becomes a crisis. Los Angeles: Tarcher.
Work concerning the DSM-IV Codes including the term Spiritual Emergency ?