I was diagnosed with Severe Clinical Depression at 14, though I'd been exhibiting the symptoms since I was about 12.

Until my mid 20s, that's what I thought I had. Then I saw my current P-doc. He diagnosed me Bipolar II. He said if I had one long episode, it would be more like Cyclothemia (I think is the word? Chronic depression), but if one has multiple episodes of depression, they are Bipolar II--this of course meaning one has to have hypo-manic episodes as well. I was off meds for years, doing very well, busy all the time (don't remember, but my fam said I told them I had to stay busy or I would get depressed). Big clue there. I've since had more severe hypomanic episodes--I don't remember if I had them when younger; a lot of that time is a blur.

Truthfully, though, I think I've always been Bipolar. I was so sensitive/intuitive as a small kid. I also believe that hormones have much to do with the emergence of an underlying mental illness (like Schizophrenics getting diagnosed in their teens.). Plus I recently discovered both sides of the family tree are rampant with mental illness. Somehow it skipped much of my immediate family members. Yay me!