Looking back, l have had it since my mid twenties. Happened when I went to a new country, learning to adapt in a different culture, learn a new dialect etc. Symptoms then included unbounded optimism, quitting jobs whenever I had a grand new entrepreneurial idea (fortunately it's only been one idea at a time) and rapid fire talking which drove my then spouse nuts.

It was only when I was depressed that I sought help. Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa and a few others I can't remember but they didn't seem to work so after a month or two I'd quit and my cheerful mood would return, often to last for at least 6 months.

In the late 2000s I went through a divorce (in retrospect triggered by a manic episode characterized by a relationship killing behaviors) and I had the first rapid cycling (minute to minute) episode that I could not control. Ended up in the psych ward for 8 days.

Been on multiple meds since then, but late last year, I tapered off ALL drugs as I wanted to find out what the heck I was taking them for, as I seemed to have a med for each symptom.

7 months later, I ended up being on the first serious depressive state accompanied by serious suicidal thoughts that I was too scared to act on. Met a good shrink who took an hour and half to analyze me, and was diagnosed with bipolar. (I suspect type II, but will be seeing a new shrink in two weeks for an hour to discuss? Not yet sure)

The good shrink at the psych ward put me back on Trileptal and Seroquel, which together have been working to lift me back up. Still not on antidepressants, but the depression is lifting.

Sorry for the long response, but this also constitutes my first post.