If it's okay, I'm going to answer both of your threads in one:

I've only had a few severe manias in my lifetime. I can only describe that feeling as heaven (what I once believed I was actually experiencing). It is amazing. It is also extremely destructive because of the bizarre decisions and delusions and it is incredibly terrifying when it turns to psychosis.
I have experienced hypo manias more frequently (maybe once or twice a year). I only notice them in hindsight and for me, not because of the poor decisions but because of my high energy, unpredictable, unusual behavior, and my often very distorted thinking.
I have small depressions (usually laced with anxiety) a couple times a year. Mild as they may be, they are often debilitating. I have only had a few major depressions in my lifetime and they are very scary. I often become extremely delusional and always suicidal. I'm not sure how I have survived them, honestly. My major depressions have usually proceeded my manias and have lasted up to a couple of years (especially when I was in high school).

I had the most major episode of my life three years ago and this was followed by the pregnancy and postpartum of my youngest daughter. Because of this, the last few years I have been all over the place. I have had episodes several times a year. I've had many short hypo manias mixed with long depressions and only brief periods of stability. It's been crazy. What do your mood swings look like?