Yes! When it's not situational, it's a pretty good indicator that it's not "normal ups and downs" because everyone has those (hence, "normal" )(!) It drives me so nuts when people dismiss BP with things like, "well, everyone has ups and downs". Of course they do! But they usually make sense. One can give a reason, a cause. I have those kind too, and they're not the same. In the same way that if one sometimes gets regular headaches and sometimes gets migraines, they can assure you that, yes, they are both headaches, but they are definitely different from one another(!)

I agree with the others that it does take time to notice patterns. Besides behavior, I find that thought patterns are pretty revealing too. For instance, if I start thinking, "hmmm, think I'll need a bunch of those" or start considering styles or colors that just aren't me... or starting to become obsessed with some new interest as THE thing...yeah, been down that road, lol. Over and over and over. NOW, because I've recognized the thought pattern, when I start "hearing" that kind of self-talk, I can stop (or at least slow it down). "Aha! This is the thinking that started those times too ..." Before I was able to recognize it, the talk would feel very very logical and I'd just follow it w/o question. Now I question. Or more properly, recognize. Not always, but still... it helps.

It's going to be harder without so much historical evidence to get clubbed over the head with (like I have, haha) , but it's definitely worth trying to do. A lot of both my depression and hypo come out of nowhere -- ie. not situational, so that may make it easier to recognize as well (before knowing it was BP, this endogenous thing perplexed me for years and years -- it just didn't make any sense!!). Now it can be recognized as a big indicator.

Sorry this is so ramble-y. Good luck. Think back and see what "data" you can find to start piecing together your own personal patterns.