I am one that a mood chart and journaling really has helped me realize when I am getting a little to happy more then usual, or getting hypomania which then I know I lead to watch out for more things that can lead me to a real manic phase that I really don't want to go to again. It was difficult at first for me to see where I was at but after one year of charting and journaling it has really helped me. I now know not all but things that can trigger me and symptoms to look out for when I am getting further into mania. I need less and less sleep, mind starts having too many ideas, talk more, feel overwhelmed that I don't have enough time to complete everything, my movements are faster, irritability, these are a few of when I know or my husband knows to watch out for. Even the way I think or interpret things are different. All this also goes for heading to depression. Things are just the opposite. I hope this helped some.