Not in the past, but nowadays, yes - sort of. I mean, I have to say "sort of" because I'm not qualified to diagnose anyone. Also, it's much easier if the person is clearly full-blown manic and not just hypomanic. It's also easier if I know the person has bipolar disorder and their usual presentation, so that I can be more certain that more elevated mood than usual is likely hypomania/mania. Ditto for depression.

Growing up, the only person in my family who was talked about, in terms of mental illness, was my paternal grandmother. It was a hush hush kind of thing. We were also told not to ask about certain topics that seemed to trigger odd responses in her (ESP, a certain doctor...anything to do with her past psychoses). Though my father rarely talked about his own struggles, he did tell us that he had a "nervous breakdown" when he was 17 years old that landed him in the hospital. That was the year my paternal grandmother had her worst episode. It was also the year my mother injured her head and developed epilepsy. They were already in love by that time.

Beyond above, my youthful behavior, my sister's behavior, and my dad's behavior was all usually taken as (I can't think of the word) - an accepted "norm". Even my brother apparently has ADHD, so that added to the general normality of it all. I mean, doesn't your sister lift a wooden chair over her head and smash it on your brother? Or tear her pantyhose off her legs in fury? Doesn't your dad go into tirades and then sleep in a chicken coup for three days? As for me, many here have heard some of my stories, which are only trumped by my first cousin's. Unfortunately, no one really thought she was "normal". Hers is a particularly sad story!

Anyway, I have gained a lot of insight into my illness and that of my family members. When I've gone to DBSA meetings, I have occasionally seen an obviously manic person. Frankly, it can be annoying as heck or even a little scary. Now I know how I've been perceived in the past.