it took about 20 years for me to get a correct diagnosis, and that was only because of my insistance. it's very hard, because in the end, people who don't have the illness really have no way of "getting it." you need to find a really good person to talk to . medication is not enough. i know how alone it feels. sometimes i feel as if i couldn't go on if i didn't have someone to talk to. my husband is a really great person, and he tries, but in the end, he doesn't get it. certain life situations cause stress and make it even harder to cope. that's the time when it's most important to have someone good to talk to.