I find it ridiculous that they even bother to have textbook definitions of the disorders when it varies so much. I understand the "one manic episode" part being needed because most ppl I know (as echoed here) tend to be more depressed in their swinging. I think there should be some disclaimers in the texts about it being incredibly variable. Sometimes I think I have it and I am like "okay, yeah, symptoms" and then I'll read about it some more and am like "well...that doesn't fit."