Hypomania is a period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood paired with a noticeable rise in energy. It’s a hallmark of bipolar II and cyclothymic disorder, and can also appear between episodes in bipolar I. Unlike mania, it doesn’t involve psychosis or require hospitalization, which makes it easy to mistake for simply feeling unusually good.
A person may feel unusually confident, sleep less without feeling tired, and speak faster than normal. Because it can feel pleasant at first, many people don’t recognize it as a symptom until it becomes disruptive or is followed by depression. A psychiatric evaluation is the best way to confirm what’s happening and plan treatment.