As far as marriage I've been with my husband for 13 years. Both of us have bipolar and we have a son. We've learned to support each other no matter our mood is. We've learned to take everything with a grain of salt when in a mood swing. It still amazing to me that I wake up next to my best friend no matter how much of our mood swings we blame on the other.

My original goals, nor my secondary goals were achieved. I've become okay with that. I do my third ambition for free. I also teach a co-op class 2x a month. Today I proctored a national exam. My jhusband is given a chance to write and do web design when feels well.

I'm happy with my little life, even when depressed. I feel my medication gives me a different quality of life. With meds and government assistance (yes sorry I doubt I'll ever get off assistance). We have had a home and utilities continuously for three years! We have a furnished house, a car, a TV, Xbox 360, washer/ drier and newish computers all because we have not had to abandon everything or have anything reposed. Most of this was either Xmas presents or hand me downs. My son and husband are even able to take karate 3 days a week. We still have huge financial bumps every episode but its not life shattering.

As for stability and how long It'll lasts, I don't view things that. Stable is different for everyone if my meds keep me from having a lot of bipolar related fights, able to parent, generally content, keep me from the hospital or jail, with food and housing its doing it's job. I view mood swings as just a more intense version as you really feel.

All that said I take 3 pills/1x a day, so does my husband. My son takes 1 patch in the morning and 2 pills at night. As for therapy its helped me a lot. I'm learning my cycles, when to take my "as needed" medication, learning not to be afraid of myself when cycling and all the feelings that come during a cycle and with daily life.