I think my first symptom was mania/hypomania, when I had just returned from a work trip abroad and saved up some money.

I bought an expensive car which was out of my league then, with a huge down-payment and had a 3-year car loan where I was paying nearly 45% of my then monthly salary.

I was talking a lot and announced that I was going to quit my corporate job and get into filmmaking (with no prior training or evidence to show a passion or interest), got in touch with friend's friend's who had connections. Like a friends sister who was an aspiring actor, and another friends brother who was an aspiring producer with no clear plan or determination or perseverance.

I was treating my friends out to dinner at 5-star hotels and expensive lounge bars, took an expensive holiday abroad, paying with my credit card and eventually had to borrow money from my mom to pay credit card bills.

This was immediately followed by a really long depressive period. A full on crash and complete isolation and self-neglect and gained over 55 pounds of weight.

From here onwards, I'v been cycling.