Ask HN: I don't want to do this depression cycle anymore 5 years ago
IANAD, but I am bipolar 1. OP's story sounds like textbook bipolar 2 disorder.
I'm not sure what kind of medications they're on, but normal antidepressants typically don't work for folks with these kinds of mood disorders.
OP, I'd recommend that you talk to your doctor about this. In my experience, psychiatry is a lot of trial and error. It's possible for you to suffer for years until one day, you find a diagnosis that describes your experience, and you start treatment.
Whether or not you want to adopt another label from the DSM, there are great support groups out there to help people going through moods issues [1] [2]. Does anyone know about any tech oriented communities?
[1] https://www.dbsalliance.org/ [2] https://www.nami.org/Home