Common Early Warning Signs of Mania or Hypomania

The list below is of common early warning signs that may help you recall the changes you experience when a manic/hypomanic episode is about to occur.  If you find it difficult to identify your early warning signs, you might discuss this with a trusted friend, family member, therapist or doctor. They can give you helpful feedback about what changes they notice in your behavior when you are in or beginning an episode of elevated mood.

Some of the most frequent early warning signs of mania have been found to be less sleep and increased activity.

Here are some examples of common early warning signs of elevated mood:

Changes in behaviour

• –  more focused on goals and projects
  – start more new things, projects or plans at one time
  – making lots of new friends
  – more energy
  – more activity
  – more outgoing
  – disagree more with others
  – talk faster/more talkative
  – speech may be louder
  – changes in sleep – sleeping less than usual but not feeling tired, waking during the night, staying up later than       normal

Changes in feelings

• – lots more energy
  – feel more self-confident and self-assured than usual
  – feeling like you can do anything
  – an increase in sex drive (hypersexuality)
  – irritable
  – anxious
  – feeling very important and special
  – feelings of euphoria and elation

Changes in thoughts and perception

• – colors may seem brighter and more intense
  – lots of new ideas, projects, goals and plans
  – thoughts of being more attractive to others
  – experience hallucinations or delusions (in mania only)