A) I really have no idea if they were longer or shorter because I didn't even recognize them as "episodes." I suppose they were much longer though, without treatment.

B) See above.

C) Manic.

D) I don't tend to cycle within episodes, I'm either manic or depressed.

E) It's a long story as far as why I finally went in to seek treatment. Basically I was involved in a car accident in the middle of a manic episode (ran myself over with my own car... like I said... long story), I didn't get hurt that badly but that was when my family realized something was up and made me go see a shrink.

F) I always did very well in school / work. It greatly damaged my relationship with my family for a long time because I was severely irate, enraged and unpredictable around them. I also drank very heavily.

G) I was not on antidepressants prior to being diagnosed. The only antidepressant I've ever taken is Trazodone, when I initially began medication my manic symptoms were not reduced, in fact they seemed to become worse -- this may have been because of the trazodone, but I can't say for sure. I no longer take trazodone and I actively avoid taking ADs, I stopped seeing a former psychiatrist a few months back because he was insisting that I go on ADs and I was wary of them.