(Wow, I just wrote a whole response, and hit something and it all disappeared! Argh!) But to try again...
I've got BP II as well and the pattern is quite familiar, though the transition to hypomania is not necessarily gradual. The last notable hypomania went on for a month and a half(!) and then, you guessed it, the crash came and I was scrambling to keep afloat. Usually, I'm fairly aware of the hypomanias (especially since being diagnosed, more aware, whereas before being clueless what was going on). Currently on meds that are making a huge difference -- it's almost surreal to be so even... not that I don't lose it from time to time, but nothing like what it was. Even so, I've been wondering lately if I might be hypomanic w/o realizing it, as I'm on the verge of doing the "craziest" thing I've ever done. My p-doc was concerned for my actions, but didn't know either, and I've not "felt" hypomanic, so I guess we'll all find out soon enough...

As far as the mixed... familiar too. I can be definitely in a depressed mode and yet if someone nearly runs me over -- frequent pedestrian here-- I can still be inclined to run after them, fist a'shaking, yelling profanities... If I don't care, WTH??? (Not as much as when unmedicated, but still...)Have definitely been in a mode where I'd think they were doing me a favor, so what gives?? It's very confusing.

No worries on wordiness, I'm prone to it too.

Random fear is a drag. The last time I was having frequent panic attacks (2006), they seemed to come out of nowhere. Going to sleep? What's to panic about? Eventually figured out what was likely causing them, though it still seemed to bear no relation to when they would strike.

When things are all incongruent/inexplicable they sure can feel like "going crazy", but I've started to really wonder what that really means anyway... There are times when I realize (intellectually anyway) that I'm not in a healthy space... bad thoughts and stuff (no need to elaborate, but I've been there within the last few months before the meds helped), but I've not *felt* "crazy" at those times. Problem is, that intellectually I know "it's the disease talking", but damn if it wasn't really convincing...

Are you on meds? Seeing a P-doc and/or T-doc? Stay safe. While I'm currently like a poster child (or poster middle-ager, lol) for effective meds, I've sooooo been there, and it really is best to seek these things out to help the situation. (Seriously... I've gone from you-know-where- to being on the verge of the most exciting change of my life. I would not have thought this even remotely possible a mere few months ago...) Keep us posted, ok? Mixed? Yeah, sounds like it might be. Not diagnosing, mind you, but the point is that, though it might not necessarily be "crazy", it sucks to feel that way and it *can* be helped. At the very least, try, because it can be so much better...

Sending lots of and good thoughts your way in the meanwhile...