Hey all, so I just wanted to ask you about how your bipolar progressed when you first started experiencing symptoms.

I didn't start to develop symptoms until this year, I am 21 years old, so I'm within the window that bipolar typically starts to develop. I originally got diagnosed as cyclothymic due to the erratic nature of my cycles (my hypomania or depression didn't last long enough to qualify as an episode). However, that has changed as of late. I recently went through about a two and a half week long depressive episode with suicidal thoughts being a frequent symptom. I pulled out of it this past weekend and have been in a hypomanic state for the past three days, which is fairly long for me. In fact I feel more hypo today than I have in a long time. If this lasts another day it will technically meet the minimum duration to be called a hypomanic episode.

My therapist said that individuals with cyclothymia often experience evolution of their mood disorder, and that sometimes symptoms can leave over time, or it can progress into bipolar II. I'm wondering if this is happening.

Anyway, did your bipolar progress over time? I'm curious.