Thanks for this. Here it is, the DSM list. Okay.

• (1) Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity YES
• (2) Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep) No, but the sleep can be very light, like electricity surfing my skin.
• (3) More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
Not really. I get a bit louder and faster, notice it, and scale back.
• (4) Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
YES, ideas just pop one after the other
• (5) distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
YES, this is part of the danger that comes from the next item
• (6) Increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
YES, this was the most confusing thing I learned. Like, both "oh, that's a problem" & "everybody doesn't do this?"
• (7) Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
YES, and the pleasure comes from succeeding at the goal-directed activity. Clearly, whoever approved this just doesn't get how good succeeding can feel.

Thanks for posting this list. I think each of these can be deconstructed and dialed down, or even dialed to off if necessary for our own or others safety.

I'll begin a new thread on my latest challenges with 'excitement.'
Revu2