Stable Periods

I was wondering how long everyone typically experiences stability between episodes. Also, what is the longest stable period you have enjoyed?

I've almost made it 6 months and I am so grateful that I didn't crash and go into depression or have a mixed episode relapse. The last episode I had was my first and I don't know what to expect. My mother experienced mania and she has been able to keep it together for almost 15 years. I am praying I can follow in her footsteps.

I am also interested in the answers to this question. I want to read.

I've been cycling and having mixed episodes of late, but when my med cocktail (and therapy) was just right, I went close to a year without any hypomania and any deep depressive states. in recent memory, I think that's the longest I've gone. I wish I could have gone longer, but it is what it is. it isn't unheard of that some people can go a very long time without eps. hey, 6 months is 6 months! good for you! (and kudos to your mom as well). sending you all the best. hope you "keep it together"

I don't know.

I've never had stable periods. I'm either hypomanic or depressed. You're very lucky. Hope it continues!

Thanks so much. I hope so too. If I can't my hope is to catch it sooner before I go to the depths I went to before. I had no idea I could behave like I did. I blacked out for a lot of it and my husband took the brunt of my wrath. Very scary stuff.

My pdoc told me he isn't 100% sure I have a mood disorder at my last appointment. He said it is possible I have something rare called delusional disorder, but he isn't sure and he's sticking with bipolar I for now. My hope is whatever I have is controllable with the right meds and CBT.

CBT really helps me. With some everyday mindfulness and coping tools, sometimes you can catch the episodes before they get out of hand. it's tough but it can be done. some journaling or even using apps like Daylio or eMoods can go a long way with looking into patterns. for many, CBT and meds are all we have and we have to make the best of them. it really sounds like you are very aware of your feelings and your therapy, so that is a good step in the right direction!

CBT has helped a lot. I did a 6 week IOP after the hospital and learned a ton. My current therapist is great and she's helping me process the trauma I experienced.

I'm glad you mentioned journaling. I keep one daily and track my activities, sleep, moods, diet, exercise, etc. I really hope it will help me notice of things get off track again.

You sound like you are doing well too. Thanks again for all of your kind words of encouragement. Edit to add... I love your Yoda quote. I use it all the time!

my pleasure! I am doing ok, my meds need a bit of tweaking, but nothing we can't get to the bottom of. keep journaling and Yoda rules!

I don't know the answer to this either! I seem to be predominantly depression with brief and un-plannable periods of hypomania. My psych team is still trying to help me figure out if Bipolar 2 is an appropriate diagnosis for me, as I have had many over the years. I call it "ping ponging" because it can feel just like that. Not knowing which "me" I will be and the constant threat of change, not being able to relax or let my hair down, etc. We have bipolar in our family, but it's a puzzle for me, as I deal with lots of dissociation and don't do well on mood stabilizers.

Wishing all of us well in the quest...

FearLess47

I had gone 2 years without an episode. Then I had a manic/psychotic episode (difficulty sleeping, very high energy, and seeing things) and have been stable for about 8 months since. Before all of this I was more unstable: about 3-4 episodes a year, hypo/mania with falling into depression afterwards. After I started to take the right med combo was when I started going so long between episodes.

My pdoc says that I'm 'stable,' not in remission. I had told her that I thought I was in 'remission' because there were such long intervals between episodes.

A pdoc at the Stanford Bipolar Clinic told me that she had patients who had gone 10 years without an episode, that this was not uncommon at all.

I've been pretty much stable for just over a year, with just a couple mood dips, like a day or two.

I have gone 8 years with minimal episodes. I guess typically it’s a year to a year and 1/2. The problem with me is, most of the time if I become unstable, I can stay that way for 3 or 4 years at a time.

I cannot imagine going that long for an episode. You are truly a warrior and survivor.

I’ve been stable for a year now! Before that I had a stable period of a year and a half. I think my low stress job is helpful. I think I’m also on the right meds and in therapy so that helps too. I hope to be stable for as long as possible.

I have been stable for well over a year now.

The longest was the most current, which was about 2 years. Typically it was very short, only a couple of months at best.

The longest unmedicated was about 2 years, but my emotions were raw. On my current cocktail I've been stable for almost 5 years. But my days are very routine and I have very little stress. Also once pass menopause my moods evened out a lot no longer having to deal with monthly hormones swings.

Wow. This gives me hope. I have just started a "mood tracker" app as requested by my new psych. We are trying to figure out if Bipolar 2 is true for me. Reality is rough sometimes. I see that I bounce from good to bad to low to meh to whatever...several times each day. It's exhausting. I can't even imagine what stable means. BUT...I've also newly been diagnosed with DID...so the task will be to see if we can sort out what are moods, and what are parts. Ugh.
FL47

I am chronically depressed except when I am manic, so my stable period is depression. CBT helped me in the past deal with the most dysfunctional aspects of my depression but the underlying mood is still present. Unfortunately antidepressants don't work and make me manic.

I don't SH or SI or do any of the kinds of things but I am just depressed all of the time.

That is true for me too. I have been depressed since I was little. I always say it is as much a part of me as my eye color.

Sigh.