I see some posts here and there about whether or not you're aware of your episodes.

Before you were Dx'ed... were you able to identify hypo/mania? What about depression?

I actually couldn't identify depression at first. I thought I was just "sad", even though I experienced anhedonia, hopelessness, and guilt (and oftentimes suicidal ideation, too).

I spent many years living with these on-and-off depressive episodes. I was able to identify when this "sadness" started and when it ended. So in a way, I could "identify" depression, but I never thought it was depression -- hence I never sought help for it.

Now for hypo/mania? Hell no! Same thing with mixed. I'm becoming more aware of these types of episodes, though. For me, sleep is the #1 indicator for mixed and hypo/manic episodes.