When you realize you was bipolar?

Context, I was 26 when diagnosed, but had issues around 21-22.

College was when realized something was amiss, I became more aggressive, irritable and had more sexual desires than my partner could fill.

Also certain meds like SSRIs mainly did more harm than good at the time, and going to a psych was used as a punishment for my teenage years and never got proper help for a good while.

I'm medicated now and still have am occasional flare up, but nothing like in my early-mid 20s. Costed me jobs, almost caught me felonies, almost made irrational and negative life changing decisions.

I should have gotten treatment as a teen as the signs were kinda there, but I didnt have full blown symptoms until my second year of college. Looking back, I should have gotten help 10 years ago.