I first acknowledged depression at age 11 - that was when I was first suicidal. I can't say for sure about things before then, but I certainly had large chunks of childhood where I did not feel happy at all.

My "ups" aren't typically euphoric - well, they are for me, but there's still usually quite a bit of "I'm not good enough" still inside. But my self-esteem will be higher than normal for my own scale. I typically get a lot more chatty, social, and busy. I'll start new projects and then not find the time to work on them. I'll go on cleaning sprees. I'll keep myself booked up and busy. I'll drink more because I'm out more. Sometimes I am reallllly easy to get annoyed. When I do get myself focused on something, I won't stop until I'm done with it. I'll miss meals because I'm busy doing whatever it is. I'll have lots of energy even if I'm not sleeping much at all - and I find it difficult to follow the rules I've got set in place for myself.