I've always had some anxiety. My mom described me as an "anxious baby." I did go through phases where I took a lot of risks and was hyperactive though as a child. I was very imaginative.

I've always been a little different, but the difference became significant around age 9 or 10 (Grade 4). I became more withdrawn and did not socialize as easily that particular year. I also had what seemed to experience what might have been my first depressive episode at that time.

My first true manic episode was at age fifteen. It was a very scary experience where I had no clue what was going on with me. I thought I was completely insane, fell into mixed mania after feeling euphoric, then crashed into a deep depression where I thought I'd never get any better.