I don't recall a first episode but things got bad from my early teens. I think I spent a lot of time mixed (depressed, extremely agitated, suicidal, impulsive, reckless etc.), and some shorter times hypomanic. My first manic episode was when I was 22. No one knew what to do with me and being 1998 very little information or support was available anyway, although my best friend did try to take me to hospital. I refused. What could she do?