I'm not sure why I'm spending more time on this, but I'll explain my reaction since you seem to be asking. I'm not assuming that asking someone if they are bipolar is a putdown, I'm stating that it is none of anyone else's business, and is in incredibly poor taste to even ask, just as it would be in poor taste to ask if someone has cancer because they have lost their hair and/or have lost weight.

Secondly, our society does not place a stigma on cancer like it does on mental illness. Even those with mild depression are often treated like second class citizens, or worse, a hazard to those around them. It angers me to no end to hear someone explain someone else's behavior by saying "oh, they're just bipolar", or something similar, when in fact they have no reason (or education) to come to that conclusion other than it's a convenient label. To me, asking someone if they have a mental illness is like asking if they are pregnant--if you're wrong, you look like an utter fool.

Thirdly, the "markers" you describe in your first post are not necessarily indicative of bipolar disorder, or of any other mental or physical condition. They are, quite simply, just personality traits at that particular time. Some people speak quickly because they are over-caffeinated. Some people speak quickly just because they speak quickly. I think it's a pretty big leap to get to bipolar based on the way someone speaks and the fact they admitted to being depressed at one time.

Finally, if you are truly a new poster here and not someone's alias, then welcome, and apologies for getting off to a rocky start.