In my time here on the board I have seen quite a few people say that they recognize symptoms in themselves even as young children (like five or six). I want to know when people here began to experience symptoms and if anyone else experienced them later in life.

I myself have had severe anxiety since I was a small child. As long as I can remember really. I had a lot of fears about the sun exploding, bridges collapsing, elevators, many other things. When I was a teenager I developed severe and persistent depression in response to childhood issues. But one of the main reasons I always scoffed at the BP dx I had given at 18 is that I never experienced mania, or even hypomania. I mean between sixteen and eighteen, when I manged to stay out of the hospital and other programs, I definitely went in and out of depression. I remember clear episodes that began and ended. But I never became hypomanic in between. Even during my lost year I don't remember ever being happy. It's possible I had problems with mixed states because I can remember being extremely pissed off and agitated but who knows. During my med free years I remember times of euphoria but I can't remember enough to figure out if they could be considered hypomanic. Once again there were clear episodes of depression lasting a couple of weeks to a month. It wasn't until last year that I had a euphoric hypomania that even I can't deny. And then after that a full blown mania. But I am 26.

I'm just interested to find out if anyone else has had a later onset of the manic side of the party. Also interested if you feel you were symptomatic as a child - please describe why you feel this is true. What were your symptoms that young?

Looking forward to hearing people's stories!