I just posted this in a comment, and realized how funny it is:

I once walked into my therapist's office, talking about all the things happening in my life.

While I was talking, she walked to the bookshelf, pulled out the DSM-V, flipped over to the definition of mania, and told me I sounded manic.

When I said I didn't think so, she set the book in my lap and pointed to the definition.

She was absolutely right, and I really have to say that did a lot for my ability to recognize symptoms that I'm manic.