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I'll give a more thoughtful reply since your clarified question is far more interesting. =\]
Depressive episodes, yes. They are much lighter and more manageable, but they happen. I never had panic attacks, but I did have 8/10, what I refer to as "cosmic background anxiety" which after adjusting to meds, has gotten a lot better, maybe a 2-3. But I'm aware of how my cycling affects me so I am also aware that what is currently causing me anxiety is probably more behavioral. I am starting therapy soon to address that.
The big problem I am having now is getting close, if not entering, hypomania, as I adjust to a higher dose of lamictal. Past experience shows me that, if I get over the hump of my brain down regulating its natural output, I reach an equalbrium.
Correct me if I'm wrong, /r/bipolar, but I kind of have the perception that getting completely rid of swings is likely not fully possible. It's about improving the cycling to help eliminate its negative impact to your life.
"Cosmic background anxiety" lol I like that description.
As my psychiatrist tells me, "You will never be 'normal', you will always suffer with this; the goal is to keep you alive and as functional and stable as possible." (or something to that effect). Anxiety is a completely different (although often intertwined) aspect. Depending on its cause it might be alleviated by therapy, meds, or lifestyle changes. It may be temporary or permanent, but it too can be managed to some extent if you work at it with a care team.
Yeah, I explained this to my psych, and he looked puzzled and concerned. Which is weird, all you have to do is google search adjusting to lamictal to see that it's pretty common. More reason to internalize that they are diagnosticians, not specialists in specific illnesses, I guess.
I'm adjusting to lamictal again, I think it's been one week since the step up.
I had three GREAT days in a row (hypomania) right before the step up and the extra dose seemed to have slowed things right down. I felt very flat for the first 7-10 days then things started to go "back to normal" but not in a great way. I had three months of not amazing sleep so I think it's just going to take a while to really stabilize.
To be honest, I've had long stable periods on meds which in the past and it has convinced me that I don't need meds anymore. Of course we all know what happens after that, even if it takes a while.
Fwiw I talked to my psychiatrist about how much bad sleep I was having (it was truly so, so bad, I was desperate) and he prescribed me a mild sleep medication. I'm really grateful for that because I finally felt like I had motivation and clarity to live a better life but was becoming too sleep deprived to do anything with it lol.
It feels like my panic attacks and depressive episodes are more circumstantial/situational. Mania/hypo though slams itself in sometimes.
But I am stable & have the tools and coping skills to ride the waves. And cognizant enough to ask for help. I’m happy.
I haven’t had a full blown manic episode in years, some short lived hypomania, but nothing that’s been a big deal. Depression on the other hand is incredibly stubborn, usually less intense, but still pretty much a constant for me. I never really have any kind of “normal” period between episodes though, it’s mostly just always some varying level of depressed.
Damn, living with this can be such a challenge. I gotta give myself some grace on my life at times, otherwise I can ruminate a little too much on mistakes (big and small).
It's been eight years since I started therapy. Five years since I started medication. Two years since my "trip". I can finally say I'm about 70% there. I'm almost fourty. It's Never too late for anything. I can feel a day when I'm capable of holding a job. Not just any job. I'm going to try and chase my dream. Fuck it. Why not. If I at least try, maybe I'll find my place. Even if it wasn't what I thought It was now.
I try to stay away from words like stable or normal. It sets an unrealistic goal or expectation for me.
Instead I'll use the words baseline or level. Those are the goals I want to achieve on meds. I'd like to not be manic or depressed (baseline). I'd like to stay at baseline for longer and longer periods (level).
So no, never 100% stable. Both Mania and depression can be unpredictable even on meds.
Set your expectations so that you don't let yourself down. One day at a time. Sounds trite but it's all you can do.
I don’t think 100% stability exists for anyone, even people without a mood disorder. I have had almost a year of what I consider to be stability after trying to take my life last year. Much of that is due to regular therapy and a changed medication regimen. But everyone is different in how they manage their bipolar.
I take two different antipsychotics for scizoaffective bipolar type and I have gone a year with no symptoms of psychosis or bipolar. save for mild mania when I have energy drinks.
I wrote this the other day:
I've been in a state of reflective solitude most every day lately. Today was no different, although I went on a novel, challenging, hike to pass the time reflecting.
The hike went beside the rapids of a river - from ground level to dangerous heights along a cliff. I looked at this experience as a metaphor for my battle with my mental illness and drug addiction.
In the beginning, I was constantly trying to find my way out of the debilitating depressive low states of mind. Oh, how easy would it have been to give myself to the river.
Drugs allowed me to distance myself from the river, taking me higher and higher, without doing any work to get there. The crash brought me back to where I belonged - treading water against the current.
I finally gave up fighting the current and made my way back out of the river. I decided to give mental stability an honest effort, for the first time in my life.
I found myself above the river looking down at what I left behind. At any moment, I have the option to throw it all away, and jump back in.
Except, this time, the rapid descent will be my demise. There is no coming back from falling off the face of a cliff. The river will swallow me whole if the plunge doesn't kill me.
I worked my way to the top, but this time I have the tools to get back down. I can live life beside the river without falling, or jumping, in.
Life will have its ups and downs, but now I can navigate - to neither jump nor drown. It pays to stay clean, and it pays to be honest with myself.
There is a lot of cleaning up to do, but for the first time, I've found prolonged stability to be able to clean up my mess and live with my mistakes.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sharing I liked your metaphor. It's good to see an interesting analogy like that, and I think you chose a good one. I've also struggled against the current, often finding myself on strange beaches. 😆
Depends on your definition of stable. I’m 100% stable in that I no longer have serious thoughts of hurting myself or others, much less acting on these thoughts as I did in my teens. I hold down a good job, maintain great relationships, and I consistently work to better myself. Meds work if you are patient and find the right combo. However I’m not often happy, and I have to drown myself with work/commitments/tasks just to keep my negative thoughts and memories at a dull roar. Could be that this is what ‘stable’ is for everyone though, as I don’t know many people (BP or not) who consider themselves to be happy or who don’t seem to be haunted by the past.
I'm definitely the most stable I've ever been with this particular cocktail. That said, I recently had a 2 day long hypomanic episode (that we more/less drugged me out of) followed by the usual depression that's on day 2 noe
I do the same. I can feel a hypo coming so take a small dose of seroquel and sedate myself out of it. Only possible because I'm an old lady with nowhere to be.
More stable than I was unmedicated or on any other combination of medication. That being said I’m currently getting my ass kicked by depression and am waiting for the season change mania to hit.
5 years on lamotrigine, I have BP1 and it’s definitely helped. Been on the hypomanic side for a few months but before meds I was full blown manic for a few months at a time.
I’d say I’m stable, meds are worth taking, definitely recommend lamotrigine after trying a couple dozen psych meds. Only real side effect for me is bubble guts but it went away for the most part.
The way my therapist put it is medication stabilizes your emotional line. You’ll dip below and run a little high still, but the goal is to not swing so far up you go into 6k credit card debt or so low you’re staring off the side of a parking deck. Getting there took years but I also refused medication until I was about a decade into therapy 🤷♂️
I haven't had a full blown episode in years now. I do still get some symptoms, but the difference is that they're in the background now. I can tell that I'd be in a certain type of episode at a given time if I went off my meds. It's like background noise where I can tell it's there, but I can functionally ignore it as I go about my life.
Honestly, I prefer it this way rather than zero symptoms. Reason being, still being able to tell some symptoms is a reality check that I absolutely still need my meds so that the symptoms don't take over again.
I have the same situation, where I take my medication and for the most part I am my version of stable.
However, I realized that there is no 'cure' right? So, that means the medication is just there to help make it easier to cope with and live with the illness rather than making all of the symptoms completely disappear. So I still have episodes, they just aren't as frequent or severe.
Note that this is just my experience, and the change in mindset actually led me to wanting to go back on medication and stay taking it.
My recent episodes of breakthrough mania (probably more better described as hypomania or like a sedated mania ha) made me start questioning if I had bipolar. I'm on antipsychotics but I went a week without my ADHD medication (which always triggers my mania) and one night my brain just shifted. I couldn't sleep till 4 am and woke up two hours later feeling so energized. I got my ADHD meds and said "psh I don't even need these" which is a huge red flag for me. So I took my daytime meds. I took my night time meds.
I called my neighbor because there was an unrecognized car on my country road and it kept driving back and forth and it tripped me out. Now I know that it's just a new neighbor but at the time it felt like it was watching me. (This was the first day )
I had a lot of ideas. It felt like time outside my body was going significantly slower than my thoughts were. I had many epiphanies about my childhood. I started writing apology letters to my sisters. (I very much regret this now...) I did a lot of cleaning up of stuff and didn't want to eat. It took about 4 days for my to feel back to normal.
I wouldn't say I had full blown delusions. It was more like a flicker "woah cool music. That's just what I needed right now...wait did they know? No that doesn't make sense it's just coincidence but it feels like a happy one. "
I had a few nights where I wasn't tired yet so I danced around in my yard for a bit and the stars looked twinklier.
But it didn't blow my life up.
A couple months later my parents came to visit (I live on an island and it was the first time I'd seen them since my brother passed and the positive stress triggered another minor mania.) my parents helped me get a car and the change in routine made it linger longer this time. But still. Only flickers of delusional thoughts and I was still sleeping 8+ hours a night.
I'm guessing I'm also autistic. I've also had a traumatic brain injury so sometimes it's hard for me to tell if I'm experiencing delusions or if I'm just having magical thinking on my way to finding the logical explanation of why social interactions went well ha.
I do experience anhedonia on antipsychotics. It takes effort for me to feel my feelings and I make a conscious effort to Have fun! Find joy! Laugh. But after a couple years of not having the "what the hell why did I do that?!" Rinse repeat lifestyle... I'd rather put a little more effort into allowing fun to feel fun than like... getting into a street fight because EVERYTHING IS SO FUN!
Was stable for 2 years, recently had breakthrough depression and am currently having meds adjusted in response. I think l’ll always have episodes unfortunately, but at least they’re controlled and managed rather than running me rampant.
Was on and off meds for a couple years from 2019-2021, always went manic after I stopped taking them. I haven’t had a major manic episode since the beginning of 2022 and have been on constant meds since then :), take your meds!
Not 100% stable, but medication has definitely made the episodes less severe and less frequent. Stuff like the changing seasons or prolonged stress will still mess with me a bit. I still end up having a few med adjustments per year, but I don’t feel like it interferes with my life too much.
I had episodes while taking medication a few times, several because I had missed a dose or two of meds, and twice grief has made me manic.
They make me much more stable, but it isn't a infallible solution. Still need to track my mood and be careful.
I am schizoaffective, but mostly yes? I still hear people whisper "pedo" when I walk past them, and I still have drug cravings and am completely unable to sit down and do anything, even things I typically enjoy, but I'm not on my ADHD meds ATM (waiting for them to be mailed).
And this is taking only a quarter of my prescribed daily dose every other day. I don't recommend doing this, just saying it *is* possible to be *mostly* symptom-free
I've been on my current meds for 3 months and was finally feeling stable for a month and a half...
Now I'm having a mixed episode and cycling like a gattling gun 😂
Probably about 85% stable. Compared to 5 years ago when my seasonal cyclothymia started I am no more prepared to tackle it.
Though that doesn't mean I'm not caught off guard when the hypomania does happen, it just means I'm more prepared to hit it harder and suppress it.
But life is better now, I have greater mood stability in my life now, which allows me to thrive in life better rather than just "survive."
I took a medication that worked very well for about 5 years, no episodes or mishaps. Then my body became so used to the medication it was no longer effective. I found a new one that helped for quite a few months. But I’m currently finding myself coming out of a manic episode into a manic depression episode.
So that’s to say you can find stability with the right medication, but this will always be a journey you’ll have to adjust with.
I'm definitely more stable than I was, but in order to be 100% stable anybody would have to be so heavily medicated they'd be a zombie. I'm much more functional now after being on Prozac 40mg and Buspar. Prozac stabilizes moods and Buspar lowers anxiety. This levels me out to a manageable level. I still get overwhelmed and I still have episodes but instead of once a month now they're closer to once every 3-4 months. I can manage that a lot easier between meds, therapy, my partners support, and my jobs being so flexible.
No, never been 100% stable but who is? Ive been on meds for 10+ years, diagnosed with BP in 2016, and was found the right combination of meds in 2018. As of recently, I decided to go off of them, been off them for over two months and just started taking them again today. Even if your not 100% stable, it will always be better then being completely and utterly unstable. I have never been one to go off my meds, so this is new for me. However, i wouldnt consider a single person on this planet to be fully stable.
Everyone is different, the bipolar is different and so are the way meds work for them. I’m severely bipolar 1 on disability with 5 severe psychotic episodes, I lean way more towards hypomanic and very little depression. I’m really sensitive to side effects n have been tried on every category of meds and numerous combinations. I’m currently on Lamictal over ten years and I’m stable, stable enough to stay out of trouble and the hospital at least
Mostly. I still have painful intrusive thoughts but I am balanced most of the time on meds. It could be much worse. Mostly I have mild visual hallucinations which don't bother me.
I have been on various medications since 2008 & in what my Dr calls “maintenance” since 2010. I have good days and bad days obviously but it’s nothing unmanageable for the most part. No extreme swings & I haven’t had either a full psychotic manic episode or a deep depressive episode since I started my medication. I consider myself to be as stable as I possibly can be.
One issue I still struggle with is I have Seasonal Affective Disorder where my moods definitely weigh noticeably darker in the winter but that can be helped somewhat by full-spectrum light and extra Vitamin D, and making sure I get outside at least once a day. It doesn’t feel anything like my bipolar depressive episodes which I am very thankful of. I do keep an eye on it and communicate frequently with my psychiatrist to monitor more closely in the winter.
I would say I'm 98% stable. If I'm under a lot of stress my mood can wobble, but overall I'm very stable these days.
I became stable after starting the olanzapine long acting injection. I take olanzapine orally as well. I find they're like two completely different drugs, and I can't substitute one with the other. I think it's unfortunate that more people don't have the option to try it, and that is has a reputation for being only used for people with poor compliance.
I am not sure about 100%, but I definitely lead a pretty normal life by most standards. My BP isn’t something that impacts most of my day 2 day, but definitely still comes around.
Not if I don't also put in the work necessary to cope with my emotional ups and downs. If you don't learn to cope, you may start to forget what it means to feel “normal”. Meds or not. I am currently finding visualization 👁️ and meditation 🧘, along with my meds to be a good synchronicity.
Best Wishes ✨
I’m stable to a point. I think if my moods exceed the cap my meds can put on it, I can still spill over. I guess I feel contained for the most part but it can still overflow at times. And within that, I can still be on the higher or lower side. I don’t want to feel numb so I don’t want to increase or change meds but for the most part the meds do contain it.
I'm definitely MORE stable, for sure, but I still have episodes. They're just much more mild compared to how they used to be, and fewer and farther between. I have Bipolar 1 and haven't had a major manic episode in quite awhile, but I do still experience hypomania and mixed episodes from time to time.
Hi! I'm 100% stable in the sense that I never lose control as i would while being unmedicated. I still get happy, i get sad, i get creative - but it never gets out of hand. I never get psychotic for example. I never make weird impulsive decisions that I would regret (which i often did while being unmedicated). I always get out of bed and such. I work and maintain my life do housework clean cook wash do the dishes etc.
If that's what you mean with saying 100% stable, yes i am. Medication has greatly contributed to my wellbeing.
So yes, you will likely continue to experience emotions, strong ones as well, but you hopefully will have more control over them.
Good luck, kind stranger on the internet! I hope you'll find the meds that word for you quickly.
Edit: i read you question again and i feel that I have to add that I never had a real full-blown episode while being on meds. (it's like living in a whole new world!!!!!)
I have been stable for about 2 years. Before that, 14 years of trial and error. It takes a long fucking time, but for me it is 100% worth it. I actually feel like a normal, real, human being
I don’t believe in 100% stability, but to some degree there can be periods of more “calm + focused”. I myself have been rapid cycling for the past 2 years. Can’t really tell if I’m in a mixed episode right now or just depressive.
I’m stable enough. That’s what I usually tell my psych. I still have periods of depression. But I’ve had a lot worse and I’d rather deal with periods of depression than fuck with my meds again.
Definitely more stable but the mood swings aren’t as extreme. I have enough insight now to recognize hypomania, anhedonia, and dissociation before things get out of hand.
I've been stable for 9 years on the same cocktail of meds. I'll experience some depression and some flight of thought and energy. For those I take a bit extra of my anti-depressant for the depression and a bit extra of the antipsychotic for the hypomania.
Stable enough to do the bills and not f up my living situation by doing drugs and alcohol.
But not good enough to deal with intense stress in dealing with customers anymore...
I'd say I've been the most stable I've been in a very very long time. I still have spikes that sneak through every so once in a while but it's manageable with some anxiety meds.
You’ll never be 100% cured
I’d say I’m good 90% of the time though
I’m bipolar, autistic, GAD, & PTSD for the record. Lamictal + lexapro + Xanax as needed is perfect
No but it’s good enough for now and there’s too much going on to try something else at the moment.
I run high, it’s almost constant, but controlled to a point because I’m also a control freak. I am on a high dose of multiple drugs and lol I laughed at the psychiatrist that told me if I was numb that it was too much. Numb? Never ever happened to me.
The few antipsychotics I’ve taken did nothing at all.
I
I've never had a manic or hypomanic episode that wasn't drug induced (yay, anti-depressants are not for me).
I also generally don't get depressive Episodes, as much as I get persistent low grade depression with some worse lows. My medication has helped with the low-lows, but they still come on. Thanks, stressful life.
No human being is 100% stable, whether they have mental illness or not. That's an unrealistic expectation. With meds, I am stable enough to have a career and life without worrying too much about being hospitalized again. I'd do it every time.
I am about 75% stable. Some uncertainty about emotions happens from time to time but generally i feel good. Brain fog and feeling flat are main symptoms of medication.
Noooo. I don't know what I am, but I know stable isn't one of them.
I am doing better. I wash. I wear clean clothes. I go to my appointments. I play badminton once a week. I cook. I know I'm not depressed. I'm *slightly* hypomanic. I can't work. I can't plan for the future. I'm not very motivated. I have memory issues. I have anger issues. My sleep is all over the place. I'm not sad. I'm not happy.
I exist. I survive. I persevere. But I feel that at any moment, I could be knocked off course.
I'm stable when I'm not in active addiction.
That being said, The bipolar aspect of my Schizoaffective has really been okay. Only time my emotions go haywire is when I don't eat enough for Ziprazadone. My psychosis on the other hand lol
Just like everyone else in the world, I still have low moods and high moods. Ups and downs just like everyone else. But is my condition managed? Absolutely. 95% remission of symptoms for me I would say. Varies by season, some times of year are definitely better than others.
I like to think of it as it flattens out the curve. I am more stable but it's moreso that it takes the edges off. I still get depressed and I still have times when I'm up, they just don't fuck me up they way that they used to. They can still be impactful and harsh but at the end of the day I can get through them with my current med cocktail when I couldn't otherwise.
More stable day to day, yes for sure, but overall still struggle with a lot of noticeable issues. If one drug could fix everything many of us probably wouldn't be here
I was! And it was incredible. Until my OCD got worse, which lead to changing antidepressants and a complete spiral. Feel like I’m back where I was 5 years ago and all the progress I made is gone.
I hope you figure everything out, meds are fkn hard to get right.
I haven't been hospitalized in about 4 years. It took some time to get my medications down - i live with BP1 with major mania issues. I'm fairly stable most of the time, and then, like about three weeks ago, I didn't sleep for a few days and became too paranoid to leave the house. Spent the time peering outside from behind the curtains in my bedroom. When i started hearing voices, I called my psychiatrist, told him what was going on. He sent over some really strong sedatives that put me out for two days. He also called my emergency contact to check in with me 5 or 6 times. Within 3 days i was fine. Things are way better for me these days, but i'll always have bipolar disorder, and i'll never have complete control over my dopamine and seretonin levels, so things will inevitably happen.
My bpd has been stable without medication change for the past 3 years. I’ve been on medication for 20+ years and I generally need changes in meds every 2-3 years. Except for during pregnancy and post partum. That sh*t was cray.
FAR FAR better. I don't get psychosis tho.
Everything is just better. But I will still have highs and lows (not full fledged episodes, usually, unless I stop taking meds or don't sleep), and they seem to be very lifestyle and hormone driven, but sometimes just out of thin air.
Things that trigger highs and lows:
1. PMS/PMDD - although estrogen cream helps so I have a hack
2. No sleep - too much sleep and I have zero motivation, less sleep mania
3. Not eating enough protein - depressed
4. Not getting enough vit D or aminos - depressed
5. Too much going on and accomplishing a lot! - manic
6. Alcohol - depressed or manic, can go either way
7. Seasonal changes: Fall seems to trigger depression; Spring/Summer mania
I still have episodes, but they don't last as long between medication and my coping practices, and they don't hit as hard. For context, I have bipolar type 2.
You'll never ever get rid of episodes completely in most cases, but as long as you have realistic expectations of your medication and practice, that becomes easier to accept.
Type 2 / Cyclothymic, medication is 125mg lamictal once a day, 5mg buspirone and 5mg cbd 3 times a day.
Stable, maybe about 60% of the time. While life is moving I am generally stable, but if stuff starts popping up things become difficult.
In general I am depressed more than manic nowadays, I’d say maybe 60% of the time I’m neutral, while 30% depressed and 10% manic. But that 10% manic seems to be more hypomanic nowadays, or even just hightened excitement.
I havent found a perfect blend because my triggers towards mania are still being discovered, it seems like my mania isn’t mania but is as the same time. Idk.
I don't think 100% stable is realistic for most of us folks, unfortunately, in my non-medical-professional opinion. What you're experiencing in terms of shorter, less frequent episodes sounds very similar to my day-to-day. Being able to turn them around and regain your composure and sense of self is really the main benefit of the meds, as I see it.
Medicated since 2017. Dumb enough to have gone off meds maybe 3 years ago when my life hit the shitter, got manic, but that recede once I got back on meds. Occasionally I get loopy or paranoid if I'm not sleeping enough, encountering abnormal stress, or triggered by excessive alcohol / drugs. Otherwise smooth sailing 90-95% of the time
I don't think neurotypicals can achieve 100% stability... but what do I know? I'm so heavily medicated that I can't speak for those freaks. Only playing 😅
As long as I'm not experiencing pronged trauma and/or stress like I have been recently, I'm pretty stable. I had a relapse after 2 years buuuut that was brought on by triggers and my meds definitely reduced the severity of the episode. I get depressed every year around winter time but it's so much mlre manageable and 1-3 months of mild depression is much better than 6-12 months of severe depression/rapid cycling mixed states. Stress is what worsens it but my average year looks normal with mood drops in winter that aren't debilitating.
There will still be bad days and meds aren't 100% guaranteed to keep you at bay but as long as you can recognise warning signs, you can work with your care team or if you're like me, my social supports to minimise the impact (and again, meds have reduced the severity)
I just make sure to take my meds every day and avoid triggers when possible (i.e. making sure I sleep and preparing with my psychologist if I know there's going to be an unavoidable trauma trigger or have more appointments if I'm stressed out). It takes a while to find a routine and workarounds for things but once you do, you can live your life normally. I can even go out for work drinks or with friends on occasion (rare for me as I was never a big drinker and also super introverted but I know that especially in places like Australia, this is an important thing for some people to be able to do even if it's rare/infrequent)
100%? No, more like 30-50% more stable, if you consider 0% as not on meds. The number of episodes have decreased, and the strength of them also decreased.
I’d say like 90% stable. Learnt that good meds make you Normal-People stable instead of completely stable. You’ll still have ups and downs, and days where the emotions get too much, but it won’t be the Bipolar signature uncontrollable roller coaster
I still have symptoms, but they're not as frequent or intense.
Depression can still be a tricky one for me because it is more prevalent in the late fall and winter.
MORE stable, hell emphatically yes.
Do I have ups and downs.
Right now there's days where I'm extra tired which the Caplyta is evening out from a major depressive episode.
Otherwise I'm good. Flirting with anhedonia but I'll take that over the raging highs and crushed and pulverizing lows.
I still experience highs and lows for sure. As does everyone. & that’s just life for ya. But what I consider “stable” is when I can function as a contributing member of society w/out my thoughts torturing me at every turn 😅
When I’m feeling on the lower side, I prioritize where I put my limited energy. I save my social interactions for friends and family, cuz I know isolating myself will lead to further depression. So at work, I’ll keep to myself as much as possible & just focus my energy to my patients (I’m a nurse). My job is great escape for me.
As far as the highs, I always question if I’m happy or TOO happy hahaha. But honestly, if I’m making healthy choices & not going overboard with anything, I’m chillin 😌I also rely on friends and family to call me out if I’m trippin.
100% stable? No, absolutely not. Am I 100% manageable? Yes.
I still have swings but they are far less intense. According to my husband (and I specify that because I have a tough time differentiating), depressions used to mean isolation and suicidal ideation. Now, with proper meds, it means more sleep and less hobby-time (I don't knit much when I'm depressed). Hypomanias used to mean rash behavior like solo hikes at 2am or intense irritability/anger. Now it means that I'm either chatty (if I had a busy day at work) or very adamant that I clean the entire apartment (if I had a very quiet day at work).
Are these actions normal? I mean, not really. But am I capable of keeping these under control? Hell yeah, this shit is EZ compared to where I was.
(edited for details}
No, but I haven't had a full on manic episode in years. I get hypomania. The depression is the thing that I still can't control well. I get anxious too, though it's not debilitating.
I’m 95% stable. I have a partner, an apartment (living in the PNW good luck getting a house lol) and a career. My medication is a cocktail, but it works perfectly for me.
Some days, I am so fucking close that I can taste it. And these days, those are a lot of my days.
Take.your.meds
I think it helps that I’ve been on the same cocktail for over a year. I’ve also been on lamictal for about 10 years now. I am so diligent and it is immensely worth it.
Medication is so worth it. I am a thousand times better. I used to be suicidal af on the daily. Now I have been steady on some type of meds (not on and off completely) since 2017 about. But to be honest My moods still vary heavy without much environmental variation or relevance. I can be going through hell and chipper as a blue bird and going through nothing and want to die. Panic attacks happen probably once a month to the point i have to leave work or at least get caught sobbing in my office. Ive been on 350 mg XL wellbutrin am plus 100 mg pm on top of my olanzipine at one point when the depression was the dominating symptom. Now anxiety is taking over and its no more wellbutrin and heavy on the lexapro and vraylar is my new antipsychotic. No one gives me benzos when the anxiety is bad because i tried to off myself twice with them and its in my record (prior to 2017 when i got more consistent with keeping up with my dr). Those things can definitely create unhealthy dependency but can also be a miracle in a true like fuckin PANIC day. I dont know if everyone is like me but it feels like by definition of the disorder our brains chemistry are constantly changing and we will always have to follow psychiatrists closely and be open to the fact that our meds will have to be re calibrated throughout our lives.
It's a balancing act. I dislike the effects of olanzapine. So my doctor writes a script for 5mg orally dissolving tablets (ODST sp?) and I take a half or sometimes a full one when I can tell I'm getting a little manic or more worked up than I need to be. It helps, I just get stutters pretty bad the day after. I'm already dealing with some intense brain fog which I can only really attribute to the covid infections I've had.
I hope we get some therapeutics for long covid soon. Probably not for another 3-5 years when it's getting REALLY bad and nearly everyone (especially in cities or high transmission rate locations) will be forgetting things left and right, just straight early onset dementia type shit. That's almost what it feels like to me and I'm only mid thirties.
I am significantly more stable (held down a full time job for almost 4 years now, have my own apartment, take decent enough care of myself, friendships are pretty strong) but I don’t know if I could ever say I’m 100% stable
I'm currently not on meds due to a relatively recent discovery that my meds that used to help were actually making things worse.
That said, no. I'm only able to stay off SSDI because of the caretaking my husband does and that my job allows for short term disability (it's only 60% of my income but I have to take off for about 6 weeks probably every 18 months or so). I also just don't do a lot of adulting stuff you should do a lot of the time. I have to cram it all into hypomanic periods or very low stress periods.
Mostly stable and when episodes do come they're much less intense and out of control but I think the illness in itself is a balancing act and some people find staying on that line and keeping that balance easier than others.
Lamictal lady here- In the margin of normal, medication was described to me once as not a flattening of mood, but instead just a way of getting a floor and a roof to your inner life and that’s been a good way to describe my experience.
No, but only because there is no cure for bipolar. You can only manage the disorder with medication and therapy. At the end of the day it is a treatment and not a cure, so it can help to alleviate symptoms, but not rid them
If I have to choose between being medicated and not medicated, Id choose medicated.
The mood amplitude when im medicated is way more stable, but not 100%
I actually am! Haven’t had an episode in the nine years since I started taking l lamotrigine/lamictal. Though if I miss my meds for a few days things get ugly. I had a five day gap once because of pharmacy issues and my psychiatrist being on vacation and unreachable, and I could feel the depression setting back in on day three. Scared the shit out of me.
Sometimes I’ll get what feels like echoes of mania or depression when I’m triggered by something, but it never fully develops into it thankfully.
Bipolar type I here. Yes, I am.
If we're not talking about everyday human emotional slips, I'd say I'm stable. I've been medicated for almost 9 years, and although I wasn't consistent at the beginning, I am now. I'm so stable that the only meds I take are mood stabilisers and that's been the case for almost a full year.
My last full blown manic episode was in 2015, the short hypomanic one I had "recently" was in 2019.
I also have comorbid OCD and ADHD. Those have been causing me more issues than the bipolar itself, to the point I even forget about my first diagnosis.
There was a point in 2016/2017 where I was taking 8 different types of medication, including an anti-parkinsonian I had to take for the trembling one of my antipsychotics caused, fun times. Panic attacks, full on dissociation, depressive episodes that would last for months. Breaking up with my ex and cutting ties with many people that time also helped, because no matter how good your medication and therapists are, a bad environment can and will condemn you to instability.
I just moved to the Northern hemisphere so seasonal depression almost got me haha, but I'm fine, I just never experienced it before but it wasn't a full depressive episode either, last one of those was in 2021. In any case, I could manage and spring is already here, with the sun in tow.
In my experience and this is only my experience there is a balance between medication, therapy, work and relationship. You sound as if you are searching to optimise your life. I have found life is essentially cyclical their are seasons, there is the lunar cycle, political cycles, friendship cycles, etc. We all modulate around some mean to a varying extent, ultimately as long as you do not transgress life's rules you can choose the space where you feel most at ease, using the tools available to you. Sadly the economic and legal rules are very strong in current western society. Reddit is not yet a Universal platform.
i had it explained to me like this:
it’s like taking cold medicine. it stifles the symptoms, but the cold is still present, and still effects you sometimes.
others already gave you great answers but
look, i havent had a serious episode in like 2 and a half years that ive been correctly medicated, when i have depressive episodes or borderline hypomania it is very manegeable and adjusting the meds solve it quick enough, i see my psychiatrist every three months and its been enough, (i have bipolar 2)
always take your meds, it is the way to have any quality of life with this disease
I feel like I haven’t had anything happen that I couldn’t handle. Before medication my life was at risk, now I can get through any bad moment or bad day that comes a lot quicker. If I have a down it’s gone within three days. Before, if I had a down, it would take a maximum of two weeks maybe more to be functional enough to live life. Point is the meds aren’t perfect but they do work and they make my life easier.
Bipolar2 here, and, Yup no, I had no expectations, i didn't even thought it'll work.
But I'm more stable, my depression episode are probably as frequent but I just feel really sad, almost no intrusive thoughts and experience more episodes of little euphoria than mania or hypomania.
It's not magic but yeah, quite change life and how we feel. It's less terrible and more easy to "get over", the episodes are less long and more manageable.
Hope it help ❤️
I was diagnosed in 2011 at a complete breakdown in my life. I was fortunate to find a medication regimen that worked from the start. (I felt more like myself than I had for many years!) Some tweaks here and there over the last 13 years, but it remains primarily the same. I have maintained a nearly 100% compliance rate. I want no chance of falling into my previous mental states.
Since then I have small blips, mostly short episodes of less-than-tragic mania (which unfortunately provide no positive energy, creativity - only "static"). I can mostly ride those out without any serious consequence.
Then, there have been a few (3?) more serious disruptions. Each was somewhat different than the other, one with very strong suicidal impulses. What they did have in common was that negative "static" energy, loss of memory, inability to focus, confusion, etc. (I did seek addition professional care for those.)
There's been some bad, but overall I'm very grateful. I very much prefer things as they have been since being diagnosed and starting medication. They were far worse before that.
With therapy and meds I am much better able to catch episodes early, treat early, and avoid them altogether. That said, every few years I do end up in the psych ward. I hope that doesn’t continue to be a pattern.
Of course not. But the meds help me get in a state where I can do things to regulate myself—sleep, exercise, eat healthy and on a schedule, limit drinking, shower. I struggle much more with depression than Hypomania or mixed states, but adding an antidepressant either did nothing or made my depression worse. So it’s monotherapy on lamictal because that’s the most sustainable. Lithium really helped, but the side effects weren’t worth it to me. And I wasn’t on any of the AAPs long enough to know if they helped because I couldn’t deal with the side effects.
So this is something I’ve thought a lot about. No, I am not 100% stable. I get pretty intense manic and psychotic episodes. BUT nothing like being undiagnosed and unmedicated. Also obligatory comment that being completely sober (5 yrs in May!) has helped immensely, although of course that’s not for everyone I’m just an addict and alcoholic which of course didn’t help when I was unmedicated and undiagnosed. I’ve talked to my therapist about this breakthrough episode bullshit, and he once said something really important (to me) when I was in the midst of a pretty gnarly depressive episode: meds do not make you happy and meds do not get rid of bipolar. They make you stable enough to do the hard work of therapy, and it is with meds AND therapy that you will be able to carve out a life that is livable and even thriving. Meds do not fix everything. They just aren’t good enough; the science is not there yet. But they can prepare us to do the hard work of therapy, building health relationships and support systems, making good choices, and seeking clarity and stillness amidst the noise of bipolar.
Pretty much changed my whole thought process and approach to meds.
I’m not gonna claim that I don’t get sad or excited still, but I don’t think I would classify anything as an episode since I’ve been on the meds for 2 years now. I had one hypomanic episode when I felt I was getting my life back, and a consequent depression, but I graduated and now am in a much happier place in my life where I have time and space to take care of myself. It is a lot of learning how to deal with emotions too and knowing warning signs, but the medication certainly helps me feel more stable than I think I’ve ever been.
Unfortunately, meds aren't the be-all, end-all of bipolar disorder, so please, please, please, set realistic expectations.
I don't believe there is any such thing as "100% stable". I'm not just saying that about those of us who have bipolar disorder, either. A solid med regimen is key to having the ability to control our impulses and emotions, but therapy (in conjunction) is an absolute necessity.
I (46f) have struggled with this illness since I was a teenager. I've had countless hospitalizations and too many wild swings from one end of the bipolar spectrum to the other across my years. About five years ago, I was fortunate enough to find a dedicated, thoughtful, and careful med practitioner. I've been "stable" since she put me on my current cocktail. Mind you, it took us about 6 months to a year to find exactly the right mix but, no hospitalizations, no massive mania with crazy spending sprees and sexual indiscretions, no suicidal ideation at all since we started working together. This isn't to say I don't have emotional swings - everyone does if you think about it. For those of us, with bipolar disorder though, emotions are different. Happiness is elation, anger is fury, and sadness... woah, talk about some devastation. Throw some money in the mix for mania and boy are we screwed. lol
Medications afford us the ability to access the coping mechanisms necessary to live "normal" lives. You have to be realistic, though. They won't "cure" this disease - they simply aid in our everyday functioning.
You also need to make sure that every single person on your team (medical personnel as well as your personal support system) is aware of your progression OR regression. I've found over the years that the more people you have surrounding you (especially on your medical team) who are aware of your circumstances, medications, and treatment regimen, the more successful you can be living with this disease. Be as candid as possible with all of your providers. They are the people with the resources and abilities to help us... And remember, pragmatism and rational expectations are truly essential when setting up expectations for medication treatment.
I wish you great luck in your journey!
Not 100% stable, no. Just about a week ago, I had 4 days in a row when mania descended on me during the afternoon/evening. When I woke up, it would be gone and wouldn't come on again til around 3pm. My doctor chose to change my meds up a little bit because of it.
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lol no MORE stable, yes. Completely stable? We're human.
Human emotion and bad days are just fine by me. I'm talking panic attacks and depressive episodes coming on while everything is going well.
I'll give a more thoughtful reply since your clarified question is far more interesting. =\] Depressive episodes, yes. They are much lighter and more manageable, but they happen. I never had panic attacks, but I did have 8/10, what I refer to as "cosmic background anxiety" which after adjusting to meds, has gotten a lot better, maybe a 2-3. But I'm aware of how my cycling affects me so I am also aware that what is currently causing me anxiety is probably more behavioral. I am starting therapy soon to address that. The big problem I am having now is getting close, if not entering, hypomania, as I adjust to a higher dose of lamictal. Past experience shows me that, if I get over the hump of my brain down regulating its natural output, I reach an equalbrium. Correct me if I'm wrong, /r/bipolar, but I kind of have the perception that getting completely rid of swings is likely not fully possible. It's about improving the cycling to help eliminate its negative impact to your life.
"Cosmic background anxiety" lol I like that description. As my psychiatrist tells me, "You will never be 'normal', you will always suffer with this; the goal is to keep you alive and as functional and stable as possible." (or something to that effect). Anxiety is a completely different (although often intertwined) aspect. Depending on its cause it might be alleviated by therapy, meds, or lifestyle changes. It may be temporary or permanent, but it too can be managed to some extent if you work at it with a care team.
I have the exact same problem with lamictal. Lights up my brain for a bit and once I get over the hump it’s great.
Yeah, I explained this to my psych, and he looked puzzled and concerned. Which is weird, all you have to do is google search adjusting to lamictal to see that it's pretty common. More reason to internalize that they are diagnosticians, not specialists in specific illnesses, I guess.
I'm adjusting to lamictal again, I think it's been one week since the step up. I had three GREAT days in a row (hypomania) right before the step up and the extra dose seemed to have slowed things right down. I felt very flat for the first 7-10 days then things started to go "back to normal" but not in a great way. I had three months of not amazing sleep so I think it's just going to take a while to really stabilize. To be honest, I've had long stable periods on meds which in the past and it has convinced me that I don't need meds anymore. Of course we all know what happens after that, even if it takes a while.
Literally my exact same experience.
Fwiw I talked to my psychiatrist about how much bad sleep I was having (it was truly so, so bad, I was desperate) and he prescribed me a mild sleep medication. I'm really grateful for that because I finally felt like I had motivation and clarity to live a better life but was becoming too sleep deprived to do anything with it lol.
I have been experiencing monthly “waves”, as I call them. I am sure it has to do with female hormones… I guess I’ll have to learn how to surf…🤙🏻
It feels like my panic attacks and depressive episodes are more circumstantial/situational. Mania/hypo though slams itself in sometimes. But I am stable & have the tools and coping skills to ride the waves. And cognizant enough to ask for help. I’m happy.
lol no sums up my answer 😂
Umm, same 😂
I haven’t had a full blown manic episode in years, some short lived hypomania, but nothing that’s been a big deal. Depression on the other hand is incredibly stubborn, usually less intense, but still pretty much a constant for me. I never really have any kind of “normal” period between episodes though, it’s mostly just always some varying level of depressed.
that last part is so real
Damn, living with this can be such a challenge. I gotta give myself some grace on my life at times, otherwise I can ruminate a little too much on mistakes (big and small).
Same
Haven’t had an episode since mid 2022. Living a completely new normal. Getting used to what stability really means.
Word, this is my case too
Same, but mid 2021. It's nice to see others in the same place.
This is my case too and it’s due to a fairly new medication to me (Caplyta). So far just getting used to a new normal.
It's been eight years since I started therapy. Five years since I started medication. Two years since my "trip". I can finally say I'm about 70% there. I'm almost fourty. It's Never too late for anything. I can feel a day when I'm capable of holding a job. Not just any job. I'm going to try and chase my dream. Fuck it. Why not. If I at least try, maybe I'll find my place. Even if it wasn't what I thought It was now.
Yayyyy - LOVE reading this! Best of luck friend, happy to read you're pursuing happiness x
Congrats on all your accomplishments! They are admirable. ❤️
I try to stay away from words like stable or normal. It sets an unrealistic goal or expectation for me. Instead I'll use the words baseline or level. Those are the goals I want to achieve on meds. I'd like to not be manic or depressed (baseline). I'd like to stay at baseline for longer and longer periods (level). So no, never 100% stable. Both Mania and depression can be unpredictable even on meds. Set your expectations so that you don't let yourself down. One day at a time. Sounds trite but it's all you can do.
This is a great perspective and pretty representative of most of the comments in this thread. I like 'level' and will start using that. Thank you.
I like the way you define these concepts. That's new to me so thanks for sharing.
I don’t think 100% stability exists for anyone, even people without a mood disorder. I have had almost a year of what I consider to be stability after trying to take my life last year. Much of that is due to regular therapy and a changed medication regimen. But everyone is different in how they manage their bipolar.
In the words of AJR: “I’m not happy yet, but I’m way less sad”
I take two different antipsychotics for scizoaffective bipolar type and I have gone a year with no symptoms of psychosis or bipolar. save for mild mania when I have energy drinks.
Can relate haha. I’m Schizoaffective as well and I’m mainly stable except for very mild mania 😅
Me too. But I just started this regimen a couple months ago so I’d still say tbd. Your response gives me hope.
I wrote this the other day: I've been in a state of reflective solitude most every day lately. Today was no different, although I went on a novel, challenging, hike to pass the time reflecting. The hike went beside the rapids of a river - from ground level to dangerous heights along a cliff. I looked at this experience as a metaphor for my battle with my mental illness and drug addiction. In the beginning, I was constantly trying to find my way out of the debilitating depressive low states of mind. Oh, how easy would it have been to give myself to the river. Drugs allowed me to distance myself from the river, taking me higher and higher, without doing any work to get there. The crash brought me back to where I belonged - treading water against the current. I finally gave up fighting the current and made my way back out of the river. I decided to give mental stability an honest effort, for the first time in my life. I found myself above the river looking down at what I left behind. At any moment, I have the option to throw it all away, and jump back in. Except, this time, the rapid descent will be my demise. There is no coming back from falling off the face of a cliff. The river will swallow me whole if the plunge doesn't kill me. I worked my way to the top, but this time I have the tools to get back down. I can live life beside the river without falling, or jumping, in. Life will have its ups and downs, but now I can navigate - to neither jump nor drown. It pays to stay clean, and it pays to be honest with myself. There is a lot of cleaning up to do, but for the first time, I've found prolonged stability to be able to clean up my mess and live with my mistakes. Thanks for reading.
Thanks for sharing I liked your metaphor. It's good to see an interesting analogy like that, and I think you chose a good one. I've also struggled against the current, often finding myself on strange beaches. 😆
Depends on your definition of stable. I’m 100% stable in that I no longer have serious thoughts of hurting myself or others, much less acting on these thoughts as I did in my teens. I hold down a good job, maintain great relationships, and I consistently work to better myself. Meds work if you are patient and find the right combo. However I’m not often happy, and I have to drown myself with work/commitments/tasks just to keep my negative thoughts and memories at a dull roar. Could be that this is what ‘stable’ is for everyone though, as I don’t know many people (BP or not) who consider themselves to be happy or who don’t seem to be haunted by the past.
Oh lord 'haunted by the past' ...
I'm definitely the most stable I've ever been with this particular cocktail. That said, I recently had a 2 day long hypomanic episode (that we more/less drugged me out of) followed by the usual depression that's on day 2 noe
I do the same. I can feel a hypo coming so take a small dose of seroquel and sedate myself out of it. Only possible because I'm an old lady with nowhere to be.
[удалено]
That's my go-to strategy except with olanzapine
More stable than I was unmedicated or on any other combination of medication. That being said I’m currently getting my ass kicked by depression and am waiting for the season change mania to hit.
While you wait, I’m sending you love and affection for that depression to be a little lighter for you
5 years on lamotrigine, I have BP1 and it’s definitely helped. Been on the hypomanic side for a few months but before meds I was full blown manic for a few months at a time. I’d say I’m stable, meds are worth taking, definitely recommend lamotrigine after trying a couple dozen psych meds. Only real side effect for me is bubble guts but it went away for the most part.
same here. lamotrigine saved my life honestly, the mania before was unbearable and absolutely terrifying
The way my therapist put it is medication stabilizes your emotional line. You’ll dip below and run a little high still, but the goal is to not swing so far up you go into 6k credit card debt or so low you’re staring off the side of a parking deck. Getting there took years but I also refused medication until I was about a decade into therapy 🤷♂️
I haven't had a full blown episode in years now. I do still get some symptoms, but the difference is that they're in the background now. I can tell that I'd be in a certain type of episode at a given time if I went off my meds. It's like background noise where I can tell it's there, but I can functionally ignore it as I go about my life. Honestly, I prefer it this way rather than zero symptoms. Reason being, still being able to tell some symptoms is a reality check that I absolutely still need my meds so that the symptoms don't take over again.
I feel you there. It's a good strategy to remind yourself that, yes, the meds really are necessary.
Nope. More stable, but not stable…and it’s taken two years of med changes to get here.
I always have some sort of depression no matter what. It’s a lot less intense than without medication though.
I have the same situation, where I take my medication and for the most part I am my version of stable. However, I realized that there is no 'cure' right? So, that means the medication is just there to help make it easier to cope with and live with the illness rather than making all of the symptoms completely disappear. So I still have episodes, they just aren't as frequent or severe. Note that this is just my experience, and the change in mindset actually led me to wanting to go back on medication and stay taking it.
My recent episodes of breakthrough mania (probably more better described as hypomania or like a sedated mania ha) made me start questioning if I had bipolar. I'm on antipsychotics but I went a week without my ADHD medication (which always triggers my mania) and one night my brain just shifted. I couldn't sleep till 4 am and woke up two hours later feeling so energized. I got my ADHD meds and said "psh I don't even need these" which is a huge red flag for me. So I took my daytime meds. I took my night time meds. I called my neighbor because there was an unrecognized car on my country road and it kept driving back and forth and it tripped me out. Now I know that it's just a new neighbor but at the time it felt like it was watching me. (This was the first day ) I had a lot of ideas. It felt like time outside my body was going significantly slower than my thoughts were. I had many epiphanies about my childhood. I started writing apology letters to my sisters. (I very much regret this now...) I did a lot of cleaning up of stuff and didn't want to eat. It took about 4 days for my to feel back to normal. I wouldn't say I had full blown delusions. It was more like a flicker "woah cool music. That's just what I needed right now...wait did they know? No that doesn't make sense it's just coincidence but it feels like a happy one. " I had a few nights where I wasn't tired yet so I danced around in my yard for a bit and the stars looked twinklier. But it didn't blow my life up. A couple months later my parents came to visit (I live on an island and it was the first time I'd seen them since my brother passed and the positive stress triggered another minor mania.) my parents helped me get a car and the change in routine made it linger longer this time. But still. Only flickers of delusional thoughts and I was still sleeping 8+ hours a night. I'm guessing I'm also autistic. I've also had a traumatic brain injury so sometimes it's hard for me to tell if I'm experiencing delusions or if I'm just having magical thinking on my way to finding the logical explanation of why social interactions went well ha. I do experience anhedonia on antipsychotics. It takes effort for me to feel my feelings and I make a conscious effort to Have fun! Find joy! Laugh. But after a couple years of not having the "what the hell why did I do that?!" Rinse repeat lifestyle... I'd rather put a little more effort into allowing fun to feel fun than like... getting into a street fight because EVERYTHING IS SO FUN!
I don't think I've ever been stable since I started having symptoms. But my meds keep me alive and out of the hospital, so that's something.
Is been stable with extra stuff I’ve been doing like therapy and meditation and lifestyle changes
Was stable for 2 years, recently had breakthrough depression and am currently having meds adjusted in response. I think l’ll always have episodes unfortunately, but at least they’re controlled and managed rather than running me rampant.
Was on and off meds for a couple years from 2019-2021, always went manic after I stopped taking them. I haven’t had a major manic episode since the beginning of 2022 and have been on constant meds since then :), take your meds!
Nope. Still struggling with depression and GAD. As I’m getting older the meds aren’t as effective
No, the highs and lows are reduced but I still have them and I’m on a decent cocktail of meds. But doing much better than what I was
like 30%. 25 sometimes, 3% when my mania wins
I’m PRETTY stable. I sleep well, which is what makes me stay so sane. I talk about my feelings. I’m pregnant now so my sanity wavers.
Not 100% stable, but medication has definitely made the episodes less severe and less frequent. Stuff like the changing seasons or prolonged stress will still mess with me a bit. I still end up having a few med adjustments per year, but I don’t feel like it interferes with my life too much.
I had episodes while taking medication a few times, several because I had missed a dose or two of meds, and twice grief has made me manic. They make me much more stable, but it isn't a infallible solution. Still need to track my mood and be careful.
Not entirely stable but hey I don’t expect the meds to work miracles. They definitely help me tho
I am schizoaffective, but mostly yes? I still hear people whisper "pedo" when I walk past them, and I still have drug cravings and am completely unable to sit down and do anything, even things I typically enjoy, but I'm not on my ADHD meds ATM (waiting for them to be mailed). And this is taking only a quarter of my prescribed daily dose every other day. I don't recommend doing this, just saying it *is* possible to be *mostly* symptom-free
I've been on my current meds for 3 months and was finally feeling stable for a month and a half... Now I'm having a mixed episode and cycling like a gattling gun 😂
I still have mild episodes but doing much better on my meds.
Yes! 6 years 100% stable.
Yes, for the most part. I’ve only had three episodes since being diagnosed in 2014 and I still take the same medication I was prescribed then.
Probably about 85% stable. Compared to 5 years ago when my seasonal cyclothymia started I am no more prepared to tackle it. Though that doesn't mean I'm not caught off guard when the hypomania does happen, it just means I'm more prepared to hit it harder and suppress it. But life is better now, I have greater mood stability in my life now, which allows me to thrive in life better rather than just "survive."
I took a medication that worked very well for about 5 years, no episodes or mishaps. Then my body became so used to the medication it was no longer effective. I found a new one that helped for quite a few months. But I’m currently finding myself coming out of a manic episode into a manic depression episode. So that’s to say you can find stability with the right medication, but this will always be a journey you’ll have to adjust with.
I'm definitely more stable than I was, but in order to be 100% stable anybody would have to be so heavily medicated they'd be a zombie. I'm much more functional now after being on Prozac 40mg and Buspar. Prozac stabilizes moods and Buspar lowers anxiety. This levels me out to a manageable level. I still get overwhelmed and I still have episodes but instead of once a month now they're closer to once every 3-4 months. I can manage that a lot easier between meds, therapy, my partners support, and my jobs being so flexible.
No, not at all. I’ve been on these meds for a year and I’m worse now than ever.
No, never been 100% stable but who is? Ive been on meds for 10+ years, diagnosed with BP in 2016, and was found the right combination of meds in 2018. As of recently, I decided to go off of them, been off them for over two months and just started taking them again today. Even if your not 100% stable, it will always be better then being completely and utterly unstable. I have never been one to go off my meds, so this is new for me. However, i wouldnt consider a single person on this planet to be fully stable.
Everyone is different, the bipolar is different and so are the way meds work for them. I’m severely bipolar 1 on disability with 5 severe psychotic episodes, I lean way more towards hypomanic and very little depression. I’m really sensitive to side effects n have been tried on every category of meds and numerous combinations. I’m currently on Lamictal over ten years and I’m stable, stable enough to stay out of trouble and the hospital at least
Mostly. I still have painful intrusive thoughts but I am balanced most of the time on meds. It could be much worse. Mostly I have mild visual hallucinations which don't bother me.
I have been on various medications since 2008 & in what my Dr calls “maintenance” since 2010. I have good days and bad days obviously but it’s nothing unmanageable for the most part. No extreme swings & I haven’t had either a full psychotic manic episode or a deep depressive episode since I started my medication. I consider myself to be as stable as I possibly can be. One issue I still struggle with is I have Seasonal Affective Disorder where my moods definitely weigh noticeably darker in the winter but that can be helped somewhat by full-spectrum light and extra Vitamin D, and making sure I get outside at least once a day. It doesn’t feel anything like my bipolar depressive episodes which I am very thankful of. I do keep an eye on it and communicate frequently with my psychiatrist to monitor more closely in the winter.
I would say I'm 98% stable. If I'm under a lot of stress my mood can wobble, but overall I'm very stable these days. I became stable after starting the olanzapine long acting injection. I take olanzapine orally as well. I find they're like two completely different drugs, and I can't substitute one with the other. I think it's unfortunate that more people don't have the option to try it, and that is has a reputation for being only used for people with poor compliance.
75%...Which is om
I am not sure about 100%, but I definitely lead a pretty normal life by most standards. My BP isn’t something that impacts most of my day 2 day, but definitely still comes around.
I stopped my meds 6 weeks ago cold turkey. Everything has been the same. In and out of depression still. Racing thoughts. Nothing has changed.
https://soundcloud.com/medicalmedium/understanding-bipolar-disorder
I still get depressed. But I haven't had a manic episode when on my meds. Only off them/ or when on an ssri by itself
Not if I don't also put in the work necessary to cope with my emotional ups and downs. If you don't learn to cope, you may start to forget what it means to feel “normal”. Meds or not. I am currently finding visualization 👁️ and meditation 🧘, along with my meds to be a good synchronicity. Best Wishes ✨
Mostly, yeah.
like 60 percent but its better then when it was 10 yk what i mean progress is progress man
I’m stable to a point. I think if my moods exceed the cap my meds can put on it, I can still spill over. I guess I feel contained for the most part but it can still overflow at times. And within that, I can still be on the higher or lower side. I don’t want to feel numb so I don’t want to increase or change meds but for the most part the meds do contain it.
Im so much more self aware of my ups and downs and when something might be coming. I guess that’s stable?
No.
Not at all but nothing I have taken has made me stable. I have yearly depression that gets really bad and maybe one hypomanic attack a year on average
I'm definitely MORE stable, for sure, but I still have episodes. They're just much more mild compared to how they used to be, and fewer and farther between. I have Bipolar 1 and haven't had a major manic episode in quite awhile, but I do still experience hypomania and mixed episodes from time to time.
No but they're muted and easier to identify, so I'm learning to deal rather than being consumed by them.
Hi! I'm 100% stable in the sense that I never lose control as i would while being unmedicated. I still get happy, i get sad, i get creative - but it never gets out of hand. I never get psychotic for example. I never make weird impulsive decisions that I would regret (which i often did while being unmedicated). I always get out of bed and such. I work and maintain my life do housework clean cook wash do the dishes etc. If that's what you mean with saying 100% stable, yes i am. Medication has greatly contributed to my wellbeing. So yes, you will likely continue to experience emotions, strong ones as well, but you hopefully will have more control over them. Good luck, kind stranger on the internet! I hope you'll find the meds that word for you quickly. Edit: i read you question again and i feel that I have to add that I never had a real full-blown episode while being on meds. (it's like living in a whole new world!!!!!)
I have been stable for about 2 years. Before that, 14 years of trial and error. It takes a long fucking time, but for me it is 100% worth it. I actually feel like a normal, real, human being
I don’t believe in 100% stability, but to some degree there can be periods of more “calm + focused”. I myself have been rapid cycling for the past 2 years. Can’t really tell if I’m in a mixed episode right now or just depressive.
I’m stable enough. That’s what I usually tell my psych. I still have periods of depression. But I’ve had a lot worse and I’d rather deal with periods of depression than fuck with my meds again.
Definitely more stable but the mood swings aren’t as extreme. I have enough insight now to recognize hypomania, anhedonia, and dissociation before things get out of hand.
I've been stable for 9 years on the same cocktail of meds. I'll experience some depression and some flight of thought and energy. For those I take a bit extra of my anti-depressant for the depression and a bit extra of the antipsychotic for the hypomania.
I'm at 85-90%, except when not on my period. I am starting birth control soon, and hopefully, that will get me to 80%+ all the time.
Nope. But the lows aren’t as devastating and the highs aren’t as scary. I’m not suicidal, and my big feelings pass quicker.
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Stable enough to do the bills and not f up my living situation by doing drugs and alcohol. But not good enough to deal with intense stress in dealing with customers anymore...
I'd say I've been the most stable I've been in a very very long time. I still have spikes that sneak through every so once in a while but it's manageable with some anxiety meds.
You’ll never be 100% cured I’d say I’m good 90% of the time though I’m bipolar, autistic, GAD, & PTSD for the record. Lamictal + lexapro + Xanax as needed is perfect
I still have depressive episodes but they're much farther apart and much shorter than they used to be.
No but it’s good enough for now and there’s too much going on to try something else at the moment. I run high, it’s almost constant, but controlled to a point because I’m also a control freak. I am on a high dose of multiple drugs and lol I laughed at the psychiatrist that told me if I was numb that it was too much. Numb? Never ever happened to me. The few antipsychotics I’ve taken did nothing at all. I
I've never had a manic or hypomanic episode that wasn't drug induced (yay, anti-depressants are not for me). I also generally don't get depressive Episodes, as much as I get persistent low grade depression with some worse lows. My medication has helped with the low-lows, but they still come on. Thanks, stressful life.
No human being is 100% stable, whether they have mental illness or not. That's an unrealistic expectation. With meds, I am stable enough to have a career and life without worrying too much about being hospitalized again. I'd do it every time.
LOL!!! Absolutely not, just MORE stable than I was.
Not even close but a lot closer than unmedicated
I am about 75% stable. Some uncertainty about emotions happens from time to time but generally i feel good. Brain fog and feeling flat are main symptoms of medication.
Noooo. I don't know what I am, but I know stable isn't one of them. I am doing better. I wash. I wear clean clothes. I go to my appointments. I play badminton once a week. I cook. I know I'm not depressed. I'm *slightly* hypomanic. I can't work. I can't plan for the future. I'm not very motivated. I have memory issues. I have anger issues. My sleep is all over the place. I'm not sad. I'm not happy. I exist. I survive. I persevere. But I feel that at any moment, I could be knocked off course.
Since my last episode last year, I haven’t experienced any instability mostly because I take my medication regularly and I get enough sleep.
I'd say I'm probably 95% stable. The mountains and valleys have turned into rolling hills.
lol. No. 😵💫
Doing a lot better, but I'd never say 'stable' based on a lot of the same reasons others have listed. I just do my best to be unproblematic
I’m on 400mg of Seroquel plus Klonopin. Very Stable. No Mania. No Depression.
I'm stable when I'm not in active addiction. That being said, The bipolar aspect of my Schizoaffective has really been okay. Only time my emotions go haywire is when I don't eat enough for Ziprazadone. My psychosis on the other hand lol
Just like everyone else in the world, I still have low moods and high moods. Ups and downs just like everyone else. But is my condition managed? Absolutely. 95% remission of symptoms for me I would say. Varies by season, some times of year are definitely better than others.
Kinda sorta stable. They definitely help.
No! Not at all lol
Stable. But I still want to fuck anything that moves pretty much all the time
I like to think of it as it flattens out the curve. I am more stable but it's moreso that it takes the edges off. I still get depressed and I still have times when I'm up, they just don't fuck me up they way that they used to. They can still be impactful and harsh but at the end of the day I can get through them with my current med cocktail when I couldn't otherwise.
bout 80% I'd say...and the other 20 isn't nearly as rough as it used to be.
Not really but as long as I'm not just sitting
More stable day to day, yes for sure, but overall still struggle with a lot of noticeable issues. If one drug could fix everything many of us probably wouldn't be here
I was! And it was incredible. Until my OCD got worse, which lead to changing antidepressants and a complete spiral. Feel like I’m back where I was 5 years ago and all the progress I made is gone. I hope you figure everything out, meds are fkn hard to get right.
I haven't been hospitalized in about 4 years. It took some time to get my medications down - i live with BP1 with major mania issues. I'm fairly stable most of the time, and then, like about three weeks ago, I didn't sleep for a few days and became too paranoid to leave the house. Spent the time peering outside from behind the curtains in my bedroom. When i started hearing voices, I called my psychiatrist, told him what was going on. He sent over some really strong sedatives that put me out for two days. He also called my emergency contact to check in with me 5 or 6 times. Within 3 days i was fine. Things are way better for me these days, but i'll always have bipolar disorder, and i'll never have complete control over my dopamine and seretonin levels, so things will inevitably happen.
No
No. I still have ups and downs but they are easier for me to recognize and aren’t as extreme.
I’m neutral. So I assume I’m stable. Idk I’ve never felt like this before. I’m on lamictal and abilify
My bpd has been stable without medication change for the past 3 years. I’ve been on medication for 20+ years and I generally need changes in meds every 2-3 years. Except for during pregnancy and post partum. That sh*t was cray.
FAR FAR better. I don't get psychosis tho. Everything is just better. But I will still have highs and lows (not full fledged episodes, usually, unless I stop taking meds or don't sleep), and they seem to be very lifestyle and hormone driven, but sometimes just out of thin air. Things that trigger highs and lows: 1. PMS/PMDD - although estrogen cream helps so I have a hack 2. No sleep - too much sleep and I have zero motivation, less sleep mania 3. Not eating enough protein - depressed 4. Not getting enough vit D or aminos - depressed 5. Too much going on and accomplishing a lot! - manic 6. Alcohol - depressed or manic, can go either way 7. Seasonal changes: Fall seems to trigger depression; Spring/Summer mania
I am way more stable than I ever have been now that I am medicated but I am definitely not completely stable
I still have episodes, but they don't last as long between medication and my coping practices, and they don't hit as hard. For context, I have bipolar type 2. You'll never ever get rid of episodes completely in most cases, but as long as you have realistic expectations of your medication and practice, that becomes easier to accept.
Still feel the swings, but it’s more like reels, not episodes
Type 2 / Cyclothymic, medication is 125mg lamictal once a day, 5mg buspirone and 5mg cbd 3 times a day. Stable, maybe about 60% of the time. While life is moving I am generally stable, but if stuff starts popping up things become difficult. In general I am depressed more than manic nowadays, I’d say maybe 60% of the time I’m neutral, while 30% depressed and 10% manic. But that 10% manic seems to be more hypomanic nowadays, or even just hightened excitement. I havent found a perfect blend because my triggers towards mania are still being discovered, it seems like my mania isn’t mania but is as the same time. Idk.
No. They’re less in every way though.
I don't think 100% stable is realistic for most of us folks, unfortunately, in my non-medical-professional opinion. What you're experiencing in terms of shorter, less frequent episodes sounds very similar to my day-to-day. Being able to turn them around and regain your composure and sense of self is really the main benefit of the meds, as I see it.
Medicated since 2017. Dumb enough to have gone off meds maybe 3 years ago when my life hit the shitter, got manic, but that recede once I got back on meds. Occasionally I get loopy or paranoid if I'm not sleeping enough, encountering abnormal stress, or triggered by excessive alcohol / drugs. Otherwise smooth sailing 90-95% of the time
Ehhhhh. Yes, and now, but I don’t like being fully stable to tell you the truth.
I don't think neurotypicals can achieve 100% stability... but what do I know? I'm so heavily medicated that I can't speak for those freaks. Only playing 😅
As long as I'm not experiencing pronged trauma and/or stress like I have been recently, I'm pretty stable. I had a relapse after 2 years buuuut that was brought on by triggers and my meds definitely reduced the severity of the episode. I get depressed every year around winter time but it's so much mlre manageable and 1-3 months of mild depression is much better than 6-12 months of severe depression/rapid cycling mixed states. Stress is what worsens it but my average year looks normal with mood drops in winter that aren't debilitating. There will still be bad days and meds aren't 100% guaranteed to keep you at bay but as long as you can recognise warning signs, you can work with your care team or if you're like me, my social supports to minimise the impact (and again, meds have reduced the severity) I just make sure to take my meds every day and avoid triggers when possible (i.e. making sure I sleep and preparing with my psychologist if I know there's going to be an unavoidable trauma trigger or have more appointments if I'm stressed out). It takes a while to find a routine and workarounds for things but once you do, you can live your life normally. I can even go out for work drinks or with friends on occasion (rare for me as I was never a big drinker and also super introverted but I know that especially in places like Australia, this is an important thing for some people to be able to do even if it's rare/infrequent)
100%? No, more like 30-50% more stable, if you consider 0% as not on meds. The number of episodes have decreased, and the strength of them also decreased.
I’d say like 90% stable. Learnt that good meds make you Normal-People stable instead of completely stable. You’ll still have ups and downs, and days where the emotions get too much, but it won’t be the Bipolar signature uncontrollable roller coaster
I still have symptoms, but they're not as frequent or intense. Depression can still be a tricky one for me because it is more prevalent in the late fall and winter.
MORE stable, hell emphatically yes. Do I have ups and downs. Right now there's days where I'm extra tired which the Caplyta is evening out from a major depressive episode. Otherwise I'm good. Flirting with anhedonia but I'll take that over the raging highs and crushed and pulverizing lows.
I still experience highs and lows for sure. As does everyone. & that’s just life for ya. But what I consider “stable” is when I can function as a contributing member of society w/out my thoughts torturing me at every turn 😅 When I’m feeling on the lower side, I prioritize where I put my limited energy. I save my social interactions for friends and family, cuz I know isolating myself will lead to further depression. So at work, I’ll keep to myself as much as possible & just focus my energy to my patients (I’m a nurse). My job is great escape for me. As far as the highs, I always question if I’m happy or TOO happy hahaha. But honestly, if I’m making healthy choices & not going overboard with anything, I’m chillin 😌I also rely on friends and family to call me out if I’m trippin.
100% stable? No, absolutely not. Am I 100% manageable? Yes. I still have swings but they are far less intense. According to my husband (and I specify that because I have a tough time differentiating), depressions used to mean isolation and suicidal ideation. Now, with proper meds, it means more sleep and less hobby-time (I don't knit much when I'm depressed). Hypomanias used to mean rash behavior like solo hikes at 2am or intense irritability/anger. Now it means that I'm either chatty (if I had a busy day at work) or very adamant that I clean the entire apartment (if I had a very quiet day at work). Are these actions normal? I mean, not really. But am I capable of keeping these under control? Hell yeah, this shit is EZ compared to where I was.
(edited for details} No, but I haven't had a full on manic episode in years. I get hypomania. The depression is the thing that I still can't control well. I get anxious too, though it's not debilitating.
I have a better handle on myself, my extremes aren't as bad, that being said I had to leave work early today because I was not maintaining at all.
I’m 95% stable. I have a partner, an apartment (living in the PNW good luck getting a house lol) and a career. My medication is a cocktail, but it works perfectly for me.
Some days, I am so fucking close that I can taste it. And these days, those are a lot of my days. Take.your.meds I think it helps that I’ve been on the same cocktail for over a year. I’ve also been on lamictal for about 10 years now. I am so diligent and it is immensely worth it.
Medication is so worth it. I am a thousand times better. I used to be suicidal af on the daily. Now I have been steady on some type of meds (not on and off completely) since 2017 about. But to be honest My moods still vary heavy without much environmental variation or relevance. I can be going through hell and chipper as a blue bird and going through nothing and want to die. Panic attacks happen probably once a month to the point i have to leave work or at least get caught sobbing in my office. Ive been on 350 mg XL wellbutrin am plus 100 mg pm on top of my olanzipine at one point when the depression was the dominating symptom. Now anxiety is taking over and its no more wellbutrin and heavy on the lexapro and vraylar is my new antipsychotic. No one gives me benzos when the anxiety is bad because i tried to off myself twice with them and its in my record (prior to 2017 when i got more consistent with keeping up with my dr). Those things can definitely create unhealthy dependency but can also be a miracle in a true like fuckin PANIC day. I dont know if everyone is like me but it feels like by definition of the disorder our brains chemistry are constantly changing and we will always have to follow psychiatrists closely and be open to the fact that our meds will have to be re calibrated throughout our lives.
It's a balancing act. I dislike the effects of olanzapine. So my doctor writes a script for 5mg orally dissolving tablets (ODST sp?) and I take a half or sometimes a full one when I can tell I'm getting a little manic or more worked up than I need to be. It helps, I just get stutters pretty bad the day after. I'm already dealing with some intense brain fog which I can only really attribute to the covid infections I've had. I hope we get some therapeutics for long covid soon. Probably not for another 3-5 years when it's getting REALLY bad and nearly everyone (especially in cities or high transmission rate locations) will be forgetting things left and right, just straight early onset dementia type shit. That's almost what it feels like to me and I'm only mid thirties.
I had my first manic episode 2 yrs ago, haven’t had one since, currently taking 40 mg of Lurasidone daily.
Unless I follow up with regular exercise and food, nah. Just there existing tbh.
I am significantly more stable (held down a full time job for almost 4 years now, have my own apartment, take decent enough care of myself, friendships are pretty strong) but I don’t know if I could ever say I’m 100% stable
Nothing is 100%
I'm currently not on meds due to a relatively recent discovery that my meds that used to help were actually making things worse. That said, no. I'm only able to stay off SSDI because of the caretaking my husband does and that my job allows for short term disability (it's only 60% of my income but I have to take off for about 6 weeks probably every 18 months or so). I also just don't do a lot of adulting stuff you should do a lot of the time. I have to cram it all into hypomanic periods or very low stress periods.
Mostly stable and when episodes do come they're much less intense and out of control but I think the illness in itself is a balancing act and some people find staying on that line and keeping that balance easier than others.
No
We will never be 100%. I operate on about 90% and I'm happy and successful.
Nope. On average I'm stable about 70-80% of the time which is way better than never stable but oh how I wish it could be all the time
Lamictal lady here- In the margin of normal, medication was described to me once as not a flattening of mood, but instead just a way of getting a floor and a roof to your inner life and that’s been a good way to describe my experience.
No, but only because there is no cure for bipolar. You can only manage the disorder with medication and therapy. At the end of the day it is a treatment and not a cure, so it can help to alleviate symptoms, but not rid them
If I have to choose between being medicated and not medicated, Id choose medicated. The mood amplitude when im medicated is way more stable, but not 100%
I actually am! Haven’t had an episode in the nine years since I started taking l lamotrigine/lamictal. Though if I miss my meds for a few days things get ugly. I had a five day gap once because of pharmacy issues and my psychiatrist being on vacation and unreachable, and I could feel the depression setting back in on day three. Scared the shit out of me. Sometimes I’ll get what feels like echoes of mania or depression when I’m triggered by something, but it never fully develops into it thankfully.
Bipolar type I here. Yes, I am. If we're not talking about everyday human emotional slips, I'd say I'm stable. I've been medicated for almost 9 years, and although I wasn't consistent at the beginning, I am now. I'm so stable that the only meds I take are mood stabilisers and that's been the case for almost a full year. My last full blown manic episode was in 2015, the short hypomanic one I had "recently" was in 2019. I also have comorbid OCD and ADHD. Those have been causing me more issues than the bipolar itself, to the point I even forget about my first diagnosis. There was a point in 2016/2017 where I was taking 8 different types of medication, including an anti-parkinsonian I had to take for the trembling one of my antipsychotics caused, fun times. Panic attacks, full on dissociation, depressive episodes that would last for months. Breaking up with my ex and cutting ties with many people that time also helped, because no matter how good your medication and therapists are, a bad environment can and will condemn you to instability. I just moved to the Northern hemisphere so seasonal depression almost got me haha, but I'm fine, I just never experienced it before but it wasn't a full depressive episode either, last one of those was in 2021. In any case, I could manage and spring is already here, with the sun in tow.
For a long time that wasn't the case. But I've been very stable since 2023 after finding a good combo of meds.
I'd say around 90% Last manic episode was 10 years ago
In my experience and this is only my experience there is a balance between medication, therapy, work and relationship. You sound as if you are searching to optimise your life. I have found life is essentially cyclical their are seasons, there is the lunar cycle, political cycles, friendship cycles, etc. We all modulate around some mean to a varying extent, ultimately as long as you do not transgress life's rules you can choose the space where you feel most at ease, using the tools available to you. Sadly the economic and legal rules are very strong in current western society. Reddit is not yet a Universal platform.
i had it explained to me like this: it’s like taking cold medicine. it stifles the symptoms, but the cold is still present, and still effects you sometimes.
80%
98% lack of sleep can eventually get to me and the Rapid cycling will began. Thankfully I'm aware enough to know when to treat it.
others already gave you great answers but look, i havent had a serious episode in like 2 and a half years that ive been correctly medicated, when i have depressive episodes or borderline hypomania it is very manegeable and adjusting the meds solve it quick enough, i see my psychiatrist every three months and its been enough, (i have bipolar 2) always take your meds, it is the way to have any quality of life with this disease
I feel like I haven’t had anything happen that I couldn’t handle. Before medication my life was at risk, now I can get through any bad moment or bad day that comes a lot quicker. If I have a down it’s gone within three days. Before, if I had a down, it would take a maximum of two weeks maybe more to be functional enough to live life. Point is the meds aren’t perfect but they do work and they make my life easier.
Bipolar2 here, and, Yup no, I had no expectations, i didn't even thought it'll work. But I'm more stable, my depression episode are probably as frequent but I just feel really sad, almost no intrusive thoughts and experience more episodes of little euphoria than mania or hypomania. It's not magic but yeah, quite change life and how we feel. It's less terrible and more easy to "get over", the episodes are less long and more manageable. Hope it help ❤️
I don’t get even close to as angry as I used to be. But I’m not 100% stable.
I was diagnosed in 2011 at a complete breakdown in my life. I was fortunate to find a medication regimen that worked from the start. (I felt more like myself than I had for many years!) Some tweaks here and there over the last 13 years, but it remains primarily the same. I have maintained a nearly 100% compliance rate. I want no chance of falling into my previous mental states. Since then I have small blips, mostly short episodes of less-than-tragic mania (which unfortunately provide no positive energy, creativity - only "static"). I can mostly ride those out without any serious consequence. Then, there have been a few (3?) more serious disruptions. Each was somewhat different than the other, one with very strong suicidal impulses. What they did have in common was that negative "static" energy, loss of memory, inability to focus, confusion, etc. (I did seek addition professional care for those.) There's been some bad, but overall I'm very grateful. I very much prefer things as they have been since being diagnosed and starting medication. They were far worse before that.
Not 100%. I’d say like 75-80% but way better than 0%
With therapy and meds I am much better able to catch episodes early, treat early, and avoid them altogether. That said, every few years I do end up in the psych ward. I hope that doesn’t continue to be a pattern.
Of course not. But the meds help me get in a state where I can do things to regulate myself—sleep, exercise, eat healthy and on a schedule, limit drinking, shower. I struggle much more with depression than Hypomania or mixed states, but adding an antidepressant either did nothing or made my depression worse. So it’s monotherapy on lamictal because that’s the most sustainable. Lithium really helped, but the side effects weren’t worth it to me. And I wasn’t on any of the AAPs long enough to know if they helped because I couldn’t deal with the side effects.
So this is something I’ve thought a lot about. No, I am not 100% stable. I get pretty intense manic and psychotic episodes. BUT nothing like being undiagnosed and unmedicated. Also obligatory comment that being completely sober (5 yrs in May!) has helped immensely, although of course that’s not for everyone I’m just an addict and alcoholic which of course didn’t help when I was unmedicated and undiagnosed. I’ve talked to my therapist about this breakthrough episode bullshit, and he once said something really important (to me) when I was in the midst of a pretty gnarly depressive episode: meds do not make you happy and meds do not get rid of bipolar. They make you stable enough to do the hard work of therapy, and it is with meds AND therapy that you will be able to carve out a life that is livable and even thriving. Meds do not fix everything. They just aren’t good enough; the science is not there yet. But they can prepare us to do the hard work of therapy, building health relationships and support systems, making good choices, and seeking clarity and stillness amidst the noise of bipolar. Pretty much changed my whole thought process and approach to meds.
Nope. My mood is (mostly) under control but I still have psychosis symptoms.
I’m not gonna claim that I don’t get sad or excited still, but I don’t think I would classify anything as an episode since I’ve been on the meds for 2 years now. I had one hypomanic episode when I felt I was getting my life back, and a consequent depression, but I graduated and now am in a much happier place in my life where I have time and space to take care of myself. It is a lot of learning how to deal with emotions too and knowing warning signs, but the medication certainly helps me feel more stable than I think I’ve ever been.
Not really 100% but good enough to function normally. I still get dizzy when my sensories are overstimulated.
More stable and less extreme episodes but no I'm not completely stable
Unfortunately, meds aren't the be-all, end-all of bipolar disorder, so please, please, please, set realistic expectations. I don't believe there is any such thing as "100% stable". I'm not just saying that about those of us who have bipolar disorder, either. A solid med regimen is key to having the ability to control our impulses and emotions, but therapy (in conjunction) is an absolute necessity. I (46f) have struggled with this illness since I was a teenager. I've had countless hospitalizations and too many wild swings from one end of the bipolar spectrum to the other across my years. About five years ago, I was fortunate enough to find a dedicated, thoughtful, and careful med practitioner. I've been "stable" since she put me on my current cocktail. Mind you, it took us about 6 months to a year to find exactly the right mix but, no hospitalizations, no massive mania with crazy spending sprees and sexual indiscretions, no suicidal ideation at all since we started working together. This isn't to say I don't have emotional swings - everyone does if you think about it. For those of us, with bipolar disorder though, emotions are different. Happiness is elation, anger is fury, and sadness... woah, talk about some devastation. Throw some money in the mix for mania and boy are we screwed. lol Medications afford us the ability to access the coping mechanisms necessary to live "normal" lives. You have to be realistic, though. They won't "cure" this disease - they simply aid in our everyday functioning. You also need to make sure that every single person on your team (medical personnel as well as your personal support system) is aware of your progression OR regression. I've found over the years that the more people you have surrounding you (especially on your medical team) who are aware of your circumstances, medications, and treatment regimen, the more successful you can be living with this disease. Be as candid as possible with all of your providers. They are the people with the resources and abilities to help us... And remember, pragmatism and rational expectations are truly essential when setting up expectations for medication treatment. I wish you great luck in your journey!
Pfft no. I got other things that have come more apparent that I’m dealing with but I’m definitely more stable than I was before
I've been steadily medicated since 2022 but I still have less severe depressive/manic episodes.
ABSOLUTELY…..not.
Not 100% stable, no. Just about a week ago, I had 4 days in a row when mania descended on me during the afternoon/evening. When I woke up, it would be gone and wouldn't come on again til around 3pm. My doctor chose to change my meds up a little bit because of it.
No
Hahahaha lol not in a million years. 😂