mood change: light switch or gradual

I'm not really familiar with the correct terminology of PC
.I just have ups and downs. I believe that if I researched it all my anxiety would trigger a panic attack...f...that...

Hope you're doing well

In the moment it feels like a light switch, but that's more so a sudden moment of realization. If I look back I've usually been gradually descending into an episode for weeks.
Coming out of mania is a light switch though. Everything else is gradual.

Mine is gradual. I can feel episodes coming. My cycles last several weeks; with periods of “blank” in between. Those usually last a week or two. I can feel mania coming. It will probably hit in a week or so.

I pretty much notice mania when I get a rising mood or have an irritable blowup Depression is sneaky, I only notice it when I've done nothing at work or home for 3 days, or I totally can't concentrate. It has to get bad to be noticed! I'm sure there's a gradual change somewhere in there for both but am either in denial or I lack insight. Basically, the s*** has to be a bit past halfway toward the fan for me to notice a mania and all over everything for me to notice a depression.