Jason Silva Says Hypomania is A Driver of Creativity

In new video he discusses ‘The Hypomanic Edge’

–Jason Silva posted an Instagram Reel this week discussing hypomania, a state of elevated mood, high energy, and accelerated thinking. He says it can be a key ingredient in creative and entrepreneurial achievement.

In the video, Silva describes hypomania as a “beautiful, productive madness” that has fueled many of history’s boldest innovators. He references John Gartner’s 2005 book The Hypomanic Edge, which says that mildly manic traits have played an outsized role in cultural and economic success, from the colonists to modern tech founders.

This is not the first time Silva has explored the topic. Over the past decade, the former host of National Geographic’s Brain Games and creator of the YouTube series Shots of Awe has talked about the link between altered states of consciousness and creativity.

In earlier videos and interviews he has cited figures such as Steve Jobs, Kay Redfield Jamison (author of An Unquiet Mind), and even his own intensely enthusiastic style as examples of hypomanic temperament put to productive use.

Clinically, hypomania is defined in the DSM-5 as a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least four days, accompanied by increased energy and at least three classic symptoms: grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, flight of ideas, distractibility, or excessive goal-directed activity.

Unlike full mania – which is severe enough to cause marked impairment, psychosis, or hospitalization – hypomania does not typically disrupt functioning and is often experienced as highly pleasurable and effective. It is the hallmark of Bipolar II Disorder but can also occur in people who never develop depression or full manic episodes.

“Mania is an interior supernova: too much electricity, too few outlets,” he says. “Jung reminded us that the cure is creativity—give the psyche a canvas and the chaos becomes cosmos.” Silva advocates for creative expression as the way to manage hypomania before it becomes mania.

Mental-health professionals note that while hypomanic periods can indeed produce exceptional output, they carry risks: decisions made during these states can later prove reckless, and prolonged elevation sometimes tips into depression or irritability. Many high-achieving individuals therefore learn to recognize and manage the state rather than simply ride it unchecked.

Silva’s Reel, posted to his 1.2 million followers, has been shared widely in creative and startup circles, prompting admiration and critiques that not everyone experiences hypomania positively. As one psychiatrist commented beneath the video: It’s a gift for some, a warning sign for others – context matters.

The clip is the latest in Silva’s long-running project of making complex ideas about consciousness, psychology, and human potential accessible and inspiring to a broad audience.

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Editor’s note: As a long time fan of Jason Silva, I have always wondered where he gets the bright energy he brings to every project. He acts just like hypomania felt to me. It is wonderful to hear him talking openly about it.

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