We are guessing that I had a manic episode over the summer, but we are not sure. How did you recognize the symptoms? I don't think I would have noticed if it wasn't for the nurses really freaking out on me that night and semi-forcing me to take an anti-psychotic and if my friend didn't bring it up to me, I would not have thought of bipolar at all. Are paranoid thoughts a part of bipolar, because I have those a lot too. My mind races with some crazy thoughts sometimes.