I was always anxious for as long as I can remember. I think it's something that comes along with being the oldest (which I think I can figure you are) but mine was beyond that. My depression became extreme by high school.

One of the first clear cut manic episodes I had was when I was nineteen or twenty. They don't last that long for me and are far less rare than the depression.

Anti-depressants never did me any good. I read somewhere once that for bipolar people they do not much and sometimes even make things worse. Anti-anxieties, sleep-aids and mood stabilizers however can be really effective.