my "bipolar" seems to have vanished

A few months ago I was a little bit of a mess - every couple of weeks I would crash into a terrible depression (maybe mixed state) w/ SI and major urges to SH, angry outbursts, distorted thinking etc. I also had really bad anxiety/panic. Two things have happened since then: 1. I decreased zoloft from 50 mg to 25 mg and I went on a month-long backpacking trip (walked over 400 miles!). Sine returning (about 1 month ago) I have had zero depression, and almost 0 anxiety. There was one day I thought I maybe I was experiencing hypomania - tons of ideas/plans, couldn't fall sleep/woke up really early, random urge to do drugs and other risky/impulsive things, but then it just went away.

I've always doubted my diagnosis. But now I'm really really doubting it. Do you think it's possible for BP to just sort of...go away? (I am not, and have never been on a mood stabilizer). I know I should probably just be thankful and stop analyzing everything, but am having a hard time trusting this newfound stability...

Roll with it. If you're not having symptoms, that's wonderful.

There are times in our lives that create situational mood swings, so it's possible you were experiencing that type of stimulus when you were put on meds.

To my knowledge BP is not something that comes and goes. That being said, I do think there is a tendency in modern psychology and psychiatry to over-diagnose and over-prescribe.

I totally agree, though I "had BP" for the past 10 years w/o any meds involved. Bur during those 10 years there were definitely periods where I was good/fine/good enough. I know people can have euthymic periods but it doesn't seem that common...at least people here seem to always be in or coming out of some kind of episode.

if you know what the word euthymic means you're probably bipolar...

Don't be fooled, as I've been in the past. Bipolar doesn't just go away. However, most of us can achieve a long-lasting remission, which is the goal of BP treatment even if it's non-pharmacological.

Ibipolar definitely doesn't go away, but many people have long periods of stability, even without medication. I was mostly stable for six years with no meds or therapy. Then it all came roaring back. Not to say that will happen to you, just saying if you are bipolar it will never go away. But try not to focus on that. Just enjoy being stable for right now. It could last for years.

You're stable. Enjoy it. BP does not vanish though.

I agree that people here seem to deal with a lot of episodes. That being said, it's worth considering the population of these forums. If we weren't dealing with issues related to MH, we likely wouldn't be here.

I don't think it goes away per se, but I do think it can be managed. There are people, as has been said, who go for years without an episode. Maybe your backpacking trip helped, maybe we should all get out more in nature and walk tons, I know the little I walk in nature helps me a lot.

But please enjoy your stability and don't worry about your diagnosis or what might be to come. There's a lot to celebrate here and I hope you do!