[AniManiac]

We talk a lot about problems with achieving stability around here. It can give you the impression that people with bipolar will never get full relief from their symptoms. I'd love to hear any success stories about achieving stability or remission.

It seems like I might have found a combo of meds that will keep me fairly stable. I really, really hope it lasts, even though I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I actually feel normal, completely functional, and fully capable of a comfortable emotional range. It's been so long since I felt this way that I can't even remember the last time I was this stable.

Anyone else managed to achieve stability or remission, however briefly?

Hello AniManiac...

I think that each person defines remission and stability in their own way...so mine might sound a bit different.

In the past 3 years I have been hospitalized 9 times, put on various medications, trying different therapies and having ECT done. Self-injury and suicide were on my mind constantly - I truly believed that I wouldn't get better and that suicide was my "safety net", my back-up plan.

During my 9th hospitalization, something changed. I was started on a medication combo that actually WORKED. I made the decision that suicide and self-injury were no longer an option, no matter what. I was hooked up with a therapist that I got along well with.

I have not been in the hospital in almost 8 months. To me this is a huge accomplishment, since I was in and out of the hospital for those 3 years. Have not self-injured in over 8 months. Suicide and self-injury rarely cross my mind, and I usually have days that I would label AT LEAST "OK". To me, I am perfectly fine with an "OK" day, and I get those good days too! Sometimes I still have my depressed days, I've even had my depressed weeks. But the difference is, I get through it without resorting to negative coping mechanisms, like self-harm.

I am still on the med combo that works for me, and I'm still seeing the same therapist. Another thing that may seem unrelated but has REALLY helped me, is I have grown spiritually. This has made a huge difference in my recovery too.

I will be finishing my high school this year, and look forward to attending college next fall. I want to be either a Child and Youth Worker, or a Social Service Worker. I want to help those with mental health issues, because I know how much it matters to have that help when it's needed.

Is my life perfect? Not even close! But the progress made in these 8 months still astounds me sometimes...and I can't believe that suicide used to seem inevitable to me. Today, life may get me down, but I'm also happy to be alive.

[Rosie23]

Originally Posted by AniManiac

We talk a lot about problems with achieving stability around here. It can give you the impression that people with bipolar will never get full relief from their symptoms. I'd love to hear any success stories about achieving stability or remission.

It seems like I might have found a combo of meds that will keep me fairly stable. I really, really hope it lasts, even though I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I actually feel normal, completely functional, and fully capable of a comfortable emotional range. It's been so long since I felt this way that I can't even remember the last time I was this stable.

Anyone else managed to achieve stability or remission, however briefly?

That's really cool Ani! And I totally get about waiting for the other shoe to drop. It will be nice to take a full breath and just relax won't it?

Originally Posted by AniManiac

...Anyone else managed to achieve stability or remission, however briefly?

Well, according to my mood charting, I've been quite stable since the end of October(!) which coincided with a med change.

It's been a year-plus of really hard situational stuff, and I'd strongly suspected that in fact, though it certainly wasn't helping, neither was it causing a very entrenched depression. Psych had thought it was a lot situational, because the stuff really was so bad, but finally agreed that maybe I was right in it being primarily chemical, tried med change et voila! I just KNEW it was chemical, and it was, because nothing has gotten better situationally, and in fact is worse in ways.

Soooo, yea meds! It's nice to have a working combo. (I've been kind of afraid to post for fear of jinxing, lol!)

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Soooo, yea meds! It's nice to have a working combo. (I've been kind of afraid to post for fear of jinxing, lol!)

Oh boy, do I know what you mean by that! I haven't been telling anyone about how much weight I've lost (and how quickly) due to med changes, but it's pretty amazing. I worry that saying something would make it reverse and then I'd feel even worse about it and stupid for mentioning it.

[hamster-bamster]

Oh, fear of jinxing, you tell me! I have not had mania OR hypomania in the last six months. In the six months preceding that period, I had three manias and a couple of hypomanias, which made me rapid cycling. My combo contains 6 meds and I am still fighting morning sedation and apathy but I will start swimming in the heated outside pool as soon as it gets at least a bit warmer and that should energize me. I have never been free of mania for that long since falling ill. I cannot believe it. My doctor wrote "partial remission" in his last note. Partial, but remission.

Ani, I am really happy to learn that your weight came off. I am hoping that with exercise mine will follow suit.

[BlackPup]

I still get the odd bout of a mild depression but otherwise have been fairly stable for a couple of years... abilify works really well for me and we are just trying to find an antidepressant strong enough to control the remaining depressions. In reality, if this is as good as it gets, its good enough. Even normal people have bad days (and weeks). Usually when I feel bad there is a reason for it - its situational not completely irrational like before.

[bpktvikesfan]

This year makes three years no hospitalizations!!!! I have the day to day mini struggles, but i have learned my triggers and learn new ones everyday, therefore i can communicate with my pdoc and we work together...i have come so far in 9 years, i never really looked at it as a success story because i have not returned to work. but considering i was in psychosis for a year and a half straight when i was first diagnosed and arrangements were being made for permanent mental hospital placement for me if ECT did not work ( thank God for ECT) I guess it is a bipolar success, and I am in remission. Yay! Thank you for starting the feed because i learned something valuable today and I hope that i was able to help you by sharing!!

[blossom12]

I dont know.
I have thought of the periods where it was under control were the times when there was no significant depression, but in hindsight, there was a significant amount of hypomania going on. Felt rather happy at the time though.

I have been aiming for a depression free mind, and happy to accept the hypomania, even though I have done some stupid, regretable things.

So I am uncertain for how long and on what meds I was ever actually in a relatively controlled and "normal" state.