Were your episodes longer or shorter? How long or short? My depressive episodes were dark and long (but not worse...everything has gotten worse since my psychotic break...meds haven't helped). I can remember hypo mania only in hindsight so I'd say they were shorter.

Did you have mini episodes and large ones? When I was a teenager until early 20's I was consistantly unwell. Then I was better until my late twenties except for episodes in hindsight. So, I would imagine that during that period of wellness they were short.

Was it mostly depression or mostly (hypo)manic? psychotic depression

Did you cycle within a given episode or was it pretty solidly up or down? Up or Down

Was it a really bad episodes that made you seek treatment, or the gradual realization? I had a psychotic break and there was no denying my insanity.

What effect did your undiagnosed/untreated bipolar have on your family, friends, work life, school life, etc? The anger and moodiness I had when manic was so hard on my children (especially my oldest). They didn't know if they would be embraced or screamed at. They saw me talking and laughing at people/things that weren't there. They saw me frequently cry (that mascara streaked, desperate type of crying) when mixed. It was hard on my husband because I became so reclusive. I was constantly taking irrationally long showers, long drives, retreating to dance and listen to music. I would also scream and throw things at him...occassionally in front of our children. One thing that medication has reigned in is my temper (thank God). I lost a lot of friends during depressions--but, I have 2 very close friends that have stuck with me since high school and before. I didn't have severe bp until my psychotic break 3 1/2 years ago. I was already a stay at home mom at that point so it didn't effect my job at all.

Were you on antidepressants? If so, did they make you manic or did they simply poop out on you? I was on an anti-depressant in high school and it made me manic. I took another one (that didn't have that effect) after that until I saw a different doctor who correctly diagnosed me with bp and put me on a mood stabilizer and anti-psychotic. I took the meds until I was about 20 when I became "healed".