I had my first depression at 2nd grade, lasted a year. Depressed again in teens but this time suicidal. I didn't notice anything until my second husband left me and my only child died - depressed for over two years. I thought I was depressed but was put on Eskalith (lithium) so maybe the pdoc thought I was bipolar. Throughout the time I didn't notice anything I had periods of hypomania and mixed episodes. I wasn't told I had bipolar until my 40's when I started on meds again 7 years after the last time. Now I stay on meds.