I think that if your personality is more outgoing, it may be harder to distinguish hypomania. For me, I'm extremely mellow usually so when I am hypomanic usually people take notice. I usually perceive that they react to this positively, I am really talkative and social when I'm up. I'm on top of it, go go go. When it tips up too far though they notice because I cannot for the life of me focus. I lose track of what people are saying because my mind is going way too fast. I interrupt them and I'm off to a new subject when they haven't finished the old one. To give you an idea, I once started boiling water to make lunch at home, forgot about it and watched tv, then went back to it, then forgot again and took a shower... I thought it was hilarious. Not so funny thinking of it now. I get more than happy, I get up like a drug. Waves of euphoria hit me like I'l rolling. I get so wound up that I can't help moving and it usually leads to a dance session, with music loud all to myself for hours and hours. I sometimes can't stop laughing at nothing. It's been a while since I've let it go on to get to that point. It's a fun party but it ends and not so pleasantly. Then there's all the work you have to do to make up for everything. I pass on it now days (quickly change meds when I notice symptoms or they are mentioned to me) but I do miss it.