"In my younger years, early days, early years, and earlier years"?

I just wanted to express the period from when I was born to my recent days until I realized something.

I initially put “in my earlier years.” Then I wasn’t sure if the meaning of the phrase that I made communicate precisely as I intended.

So I looked up and got few more similar expressions such as, “my early years”, “In my early life”, “In my younger and vulnerable years”, “in my younger age”, etc.

Yet, I sensed all of them insinuate more like a childhood, not necessarily includes, for instance, my few weeks ago until I realized something.

Is there any proper expression or phrase for a such case?