I think a couple of the most misunderstood aspects of BP is that 1) we're elated one moment and depressed the next and 2) Every mood we're in is an 'episode.'

As for the first, I think per DSM, symptoms must persist for at least 3 days. There are those who think differently, but this is the 'official' definition.

But anyway I'm most interested in 2). So my question is, what 'moods' do you experience that are not 'episodes?'

It's kind of a trick question because my point is that we, those of us with BP, can experience any and all moods, that run (nearly) the full gamut of experience without them being episodes.

So, for example, I can experience sadness, happiness, anger, lots of energy, little energy, jitteriness, lethargy, etc. even all of these intensely at times. And they're not episodes. Either because they don't last very long, or because they don't affect my day to day functioning to the point of making it near impossible for me to function. Or I just know/sense: this is how I'm feeling right now, and it's great, or it's okay, or it will pass, or it's something I can work on in therapy, etc.

I know it can be hard to differentiate and I'm no expert at doing that, but, again, my question is this:

What 'moods' do you experience that are not episodes?