This is a great thread and a great and interesting topic.
I was one of the wilder and free spirited people in my group of friends
when I was young, high school and a few years after.
I was diagnosed with bipolar late in life as well.
Now I look back and realize that I always had it and the wild times where
partly because of it. I always drank on the weekends back in those days and
I think my mood when drunk was more a result of the bipolar than the drinking
because I can remember feeling happy and fired up and that is the mood I would
be in when drunk I also remember being depressed and feeling very mellow and
laid back when drunk. I don't know if any of this makes sense or helps you in any
way but I hope it's some food for thought. I know you've got me thinking about
it now so like I said it is a very interesting topic.