My best friend (22) recently told me (also 22) that they figured out my cycles within months of first knowing me back in early high school, though I wasn't diagnosed until second year of college. It made me think I might have been rapid cycling for years, and just living in autopilot. So, I'm trying to mindfully pick out similarities between the manic and hypomanic episodes I can identify.

What I've picked out: •My sleep schedule makes a sudden change, for better or worse •I frequently either nearly completely lose my appetite or am a glutton •I "discover" an album and/or music artist I've never gone out of my way to listen to, and respect and repeat the songs •I hyperfixate on a topic for the duration of the episode, usually something related to researching animals or creating music

I guess I just feel proud of myself for trying to better myself and survive through this rather than succumbing to it like I have for years