What does stability/euthymia look like for you?

When I am stable, I have good energy levels. Not too high, not too low, but juuuuust right.

When it comes to work, I tend to be productive and finish all of my assignments on time. I also actively participate in meetings and help out others when they need help. (I tend to be competitive when manic and thus don't want to help anyone because I am trying to be "the best," or I'm too "down" to motivate myself to help others when depressed.)

Home life, I tend to be disorganized no matter what my mood is like, but I am more apt to clean when euthymic.

Energy levels just right, a normal amount of restful sleep, and the ability to focus on one thing. When I'm depressed I can't focus at all and I'm just too tired to think. When I'm hypomanic I keep switching between different things. Only when I'm euthymic can I just concentrate on and enjoy one thing. Also, self-esteem and my general outlook on life are major factors. They're only balanced when I'm euthymic, otherwise I get too pessimistic or overconfident. There's probably more, but this is what comes to mind right now.

Enough energy that I am not sleepy during the day, but not so much that I am hypo-ish. Have a more accurate view of my place in the world, my life, my frailties and achievements and future. Able to at least consider making modest plans for something small. Eat. Work out. Capable of laughing sometimes. Don't judge myself inappropriately.

I have sleep at night and energy during the day, but not too much. I can think clearly, albeit sometimes a little quicker or slower than average depending on the day. I'm patient.

A lot of what has been written by everyone above describes my stable/euthymic states, including and plus the following:

* Good energy, but not "over the top"
* Able to concentrate on a normal number of projects and what others are saying
* Grounded and able to practice mindfulness, easily
* Clear thinking with creative and analytical abilities
* Feel not only content, but find simple pleasures and humor in many things every day
* Able and interested in planning and implementing new projects or social events
* Can easily identify stressors and quickly pull/implement coping skills from "wellness toolbox" (good success, but not necessarily perfect success)
* Seek out social interactions in a reasonable way, and be more giving
* Perform good (or at least better) self-care
* Increased patience and ability to tolerate annoyances or difficulties

I’m able to get whatever tasks I want done and more , I feel content , I don’t like to use the word happy... for me being content means there’s no drama going on. I’m at ease with myself.

I love that feeling

More than anything else, I'm stable when I'm not obsessively ruminating over some thought(s). The thought gets into my mind and sticks there going around, around, inside-out, upside-down, my mind looking at the thought(s) from every tiny possible viewpoint and stuck in it with no relief. It's exhausting, depressing, depleting, and can cause me to feel angry and temperamental, to say the least.

I'm sure there are other points that indicate stability for me; fortunately, meds have helped retain those. But the relentless beast of overthinking...I cannot seem to shake it off.

knowing what I want and how to get it. sometimes that means compromise and acceptance

Good list, thanks for sharing
''Increased patience and ability to tolerate annoyances'' - the grrr part of me does become very impatient sometimes but usually stuffs it

The relentless beast of overthinking I find this very hard to shake off

Stability= equals humdrum...nothing out of the ordinary. I go on about my day as a mom/housewife (or whatever I’m doing at the time). Little to no anxiety (that’s a huge indicator) and I enjoy things. I’ve spent most of my time in this spot (though not currently) in the past few years thankfully.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashart10 Stability= equals humdrum...nothing out of the ordinary. I go on about my day as a mom/housewife (or whatever I’m doing at the time). Little to no anxiety (that’s a huge indicator) and I enjoy things. I’ve spent most of my time in this spot (though not currently) in the past few years thankfully.

Ha, yeah. This resonates with me. Especially the damned anxiety. When that's reduced, I'm in a good place.

Hey @bluebicycle I had to look up what euthymia meant and wanted to share in case others needed to know:

Quote:

Euthymia is defined as a normal, tranquil mental state or mood. It is often used to describe a stable mental state or mood in those affected with bipolar disorder that is neither manic nor depressive, yet is distinguishable from healthy controls.

Based on this definition I would say I experience this type of mood state fairly regularly. The only wrench in the mix is the adhd. I am a morning person (I wake up at 4) and my most productive time takes me all the way up until about 2p and then I start to decline. I wish I wasnt so overwhelmed by how much I need to do in my house and I procrastinate but I do not know if this is a bipolar thing or an adhd thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluebicycle When I am stable, I have good energy levels. Not too high, not too low, but juuuuust right. When it comes to work, I tend to be productive and finish all of my assignments on time. I also actively participate in meetings and help out others when they need help. (I tend to be competitive when manic and thus don't want to help anyone because I am trying to be "the best," or I'm too "down" to motivate myself to help others when depressed.) Home life, I tend to be disorganized no matter what my mood is like, but I am more apt to clean when euthymic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahsweets ...I wish I wasnt so overwhelmed by how much I need to do in my house and I procrastinate but I do not know if this is a bipolar thing or an adhd thing.

Do you ruminate about not getting stuff done...as in, you cannot stop turning it over and around in your mind like you're in a stuck gear?

I’m stable when I am
Content. When my anxiety doesn’t rule my every thought and I’m not experiencing paranoia. When I’m not feeling bugs crawling on me and hearing stuff or having self destructive through.

I am still struggling some BUT doing way better this week than I have been.