Hi all, I'm new here. I've posted in the introductions section, but this is my first post here.

I'm a rapid cycler, a lot of mixed states, depression predominating. Depression can last any length of time, but usually once it comes it's here to stay a while, but like someone else said, inside the larger picture the switch can be flipped...so while in a long depressive phase I can switch to a more manic state for brief periods of time (probably a mixed state). My mania presents a few ways: true hypomania (productive, creative, and just GOOD, but fairly rare), a mixed state (which is usually dangerous because my brain gets swept away in it completely and I'm not myself at all some of the time), or a manic state that consists largely of restlessness, anxiety, irritability, etc. I'd say I'm on the depressed end 65% of the time, "normal" 15% of the time, and manic/hypomanic/mixed state 20% of the time...but I cycle very fast and very often, sometimes in the course of a single day. It's exhausting. Once I'm good and depressed, I tend to stay there a while (a few weeks or more), but my cycling is just off the wall and unpredictable...but usually fast. The only long mania/hypomania (still not sure which is was) happened right when the bipolar started (3 years ago)...it was the first mood shift I ever had and I had no idea what it was, but it was wonderful...lasted about three months. Since then they've been shorter and in the last year or so I started having mixed states...I was bipolar II, but now am bipolar I.

It is different for all people, though. We may have similarities, in general, but our individual experiences vary quite a lot. Definitely see your doctor and mention your concerns. A pdoc would be best, but talking with your regular doc is a good starting point (especially if you need a referral for the pdoc). Good luck!!