Thanks for sharing this, Fibs.

A lot of people refer to it as Bipolar Disorder, and a lot of folks actually do have it but it seems they don't-- because they have it to only a slight degree. However, as hormones change (and seasons), that "severity" also can change, with people often getting worse as they age.

Also the pendulum swing varies-- for some people, the highs and downs are about equal in severity and in duration. But for others, it isn't quite so neatly 50-50. I had one friend who was diagnosed manic-depressive but she said that for all practical purposes, she was always in the down end. Her "down" had degrees of severity and cyclical action, and the usual anti-depressants didn't help her at all because it was a different brain-chemistry picture from depression.

Best of luck with your own situation, and may you go from strength to strength.

~Susan