How do I control mania?

I can't.

What tips me off?

Generally mania hits when I have either had a major change of life situation or suddenly find myself in a position of great joy and excitement.

The last such event was triggered when I came into a lot of money. Money meant I could do things. Money also led to excitement which only drove the mania further. After 10 months I had burned my way through the money and had a major crash leading to hospitalization.

I have had numerous hypomanic experiences all again of which came about after a change in circumstances. Fortunately they did not go beyond that.

Well, I will admit this time around I am really fighting to fend off full scale mania. Once again I have come into money. Once again my life is suddenly good, happy, without the day to day fears of how I would get by. Once again I am inclined to spend this money. The difference though is that this time around I have a support network that recognizes my current state and is trying to keep me in check. The most important of these is a boyfriend who I am relying upon to stay real.