I had my first depression when I was in the 2nd grade. The next major one was when I was 14 and I tried to commit suicide with sleeping pills and xanax. In between these, I had episodes of hypomania that I of course didn't understand. I would pick up a new hobby or skill and work on it obsessively until I just stopped or mastered it and went onto the next thing. In both cases I never did the activity again. I still do this when manic as an adult. When in college I would work on assignments all night without getting tired for days at a time. I didn't spend money as I do now as I had none. I didn't get depressed again until my second husband left me. I was just starting to pull out of it 3 months later after a 3 week hospitalization and meds when my only child, Serena, died in a car accident. I plummeted into a deep dark depression, stopped eating most of the time losing 20 pounds in 21 days, started cutting and was suicidal. I had to go on disability from teaching and remained depressed for 2 1/2 years with occasional mixed episodes. I still didn't know I had bipolar, I thought and was diagnosed with depression. I thought it went away but hypomanic episodes continued every 3 to 4 months. I thought it was anxiety and was treated for it each time for about 6 years. Then I became depressed again without any reason for 2 years, several suicide attempts and hospitalizations. Finally saw a psychiatrist again and was diagnosed bipolar I. This took place when I was about 46 years old. So, I was bipolar and not diagnosed for about 35 years.