WNT2bNRML is right, it is very helpful to have family members or someone close to you educated on this and who knows what to look for. The trouble here, and I think this is why he said to post a note to "listen to family", is because when they do try to point out to you that you might be manic, many of us will become either angry, hostile, defensive, or just plain in denial. And it's really not cause you are just being stubborn, you just can't see it usually.

I have a pact with my bf, that when he tells me I am manic, I will agree to think about it quietly for a while and then come back to him to talk about it. Other wise I can get quite upset at the suggestion that I might be. It work for us.

That's the thing, depression is usually easy for us to spot, mania, well it's a horse of a different colour all together.