Don't worry friend! I'm really confused too, which is why I'm finally hunting for answers.

I think I missed a sentence or two in there, which is common for me. I think its more due to the severity and distance apart of the mania/hypomania episodes and the length of the episodes. From what I can remember, they usually last 5 or more days mostly. But they certainly have lasted less.

Looking back I clearly missed half of what I intended to type. I do that a lot when I get excited. But bpcyclist, that said, I'm only really beginning to understand bipolar (and probably misunderstand it too) five years after my diagnosis.

No one recommended reading, or sat down with me and explained what bipolar disorder even meant. It was a wham bam, thank you man. Pay your bill on the way out. When I was diagnosed, I had just been broken in pieces by a horrible woman and didn't even know how to breathe let alone what questions to ask, and had no family (that I would let in) to guide me through questions to ask. It's only now that I'm capable of doing research into my past, or asking questions of you generous people. Please tell me when you think I'm stepping in the wrong direction. It's a huge help to me. I'm exhausted by all the mind spinning I'm doing. I'm using this period of baseline I'm in to make as much headway to be prepared for the next bout of whatever comes my way.