Someone that has been on this forum longer might have a better answer but the way it affects me most of the time is I have a period lasting about 2 or 3 days where I am extra hyper, racing thoughts (people tell me to slow down), pretty happy, on a high. Then out of the blue it comes crashing down and I can get pretty down.

Often I can get more of a rapid cycling/mixed mood. Starts with the high but then goes into an energetic/agitated depression with fixation of destructive thoughts. I can flip flop several times in one week or month. Some people cycle in one day.....that must be tough.