I do manage my bipolar symptoms quite well, I do not have mild symptoms tho so I'm not sure if I still even count. I do have trauma issues, but I have worked really hard on my issues and have healed pretty well.

I watch my nutrition, I'm not one for lots of sugar either, I do not drink alcohol or any other drugs. I do yoga 6 days a week most weeks. I do 90 minutes of Bikram 4 days a week and the other days I do vinyasa yoga at home. I practice mindfulness, well that's more a change in thinking that becomes more apart of your everyday life, I practice meditation also. I also snowboard and bike and a few other things for exercise. I keep my perspective and outlook in check, that's just a daily habit. Insight is also a huge component, especially when you are dealing with psychosis. Ok so, I may not have a mild case, but I have never been a danger to myself or others since I have been a teen, and a lot of that for myself comes from lifestyle choices, and heavy convictions from my teen years. There are a lot of things to consider, lifestyle being one, and personal traits is another too, we overlook it but it's still there. And these are things we can choose to work on. Determination and focus... The list is endless..

So I have bipolar 1 with psychotic features. But you know what, since I have made lots of positive changes to my lifestyle and to my ways of thinking, I have not had anymore bad mood episodes. Which before when I was on lots of meds, was still out of control. My behavior wasn't, but i was also not functioning very well at all. I am still on lithium, but that's a far cry from the 6 meds I was on. This is the most stable I have ever been, and I will not give up doing the work it takes to sustain it.

When I was on lots of meds, my cycles still lasted a really long time, manic for months despite meds, same with depression. I know at least for myself that my steps to take care of my wellness outside of meds has made the biggest improvement. I am obviously still on lithium, but it's something I can live with, I feel like my life has been renewed. O do plan on getting off lithium in the future, but I think I will know when I am ready for that step.