Is it normal to have ups and downs with depression?

Yes very true sounds like bi polar. It's pretty much the highs and lows are more extreme which sounds like you might have. Not bad and quite ok. Just probably should look into a therapist and/or psychologist if the lows feels as if an issue affecting your life. It is bad for your health to be down for long and I'm feeling with this right now. Finishing a doctor is not easy. Got one medication recently that I think is actually helping in only a few days for my migraines and side effects of anxiety, propranolol. Good luck on your journey. The beginning of any journey is to recognize the issues affecting you and wanting to do something to make your life better. You are on the right track and doing amazing. Keep your head up and good luck. 💕

You should talk to a doctor about bipolar disorder. I have it and it's a lot like that.

i guess "normal" is a bit dependent on whether you mean within the context of experiencing depression. if so, then maybe, yeah. it's a vicious cycle of not feeling great, and ending up powerless to do anything about it causing you to feel even worse, and repeat. i recently had a really bad spell of just being extremely angry and irritated at everything for a whole day. it felt so wrong but i couldn't help it in the moment. perhaps i can relate a bit to the cycles you have, too. your feelings are very real, and though they may wildly fluctuate, you're still a tangible and worthwhile person. depression may take over occasionally, but you are more than your mental health struggles. more than your scars, than your anger, than your waves of changing emotions. i'd like to encourage you to be a lil gentle and patient with yourself each day. depression is hard. while going through depression, you deserve that kindness, even from yourself. i'll be cheering for you from far away, too. sending hugs; take care of yourself ♡

Maybe not normal, but, they are your feelings. I know you said you only feel like being social when you are up but have you reached out when you are down? I don't reach out to people when I am up or down.