Euthymia

I am currently euthymic. What does that mean? It means that I'm stable; neither depressed nor manic. However it is important to note that euthymia is a phase of bipolar disorder, and the illness is still there even when the person is stable. One does not get cured of BD but one can be stabalised and live normally for decades. However, if the treatment is stopped the patient will relapse, with a 50% chance of relapse within the three following months.

During euthymia it's still possible to suffer from symptoms such as anxiety, hypersensitivity, feeling depressed, having trouble sleeping, and cognitive difficulties (problems with memory, concentration and organisation). However in general the person feels well during euthymic phases. And it's precisely during these phases that there is the most work to do to put into place a healthy lifestyle. Medication only stabalises the person at 40%, the rest is therapy and lifestyle. This includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, eating well, sleeping well, and exercising. That is not to say that doing all these things will prevent a relapse, as life events can provoke one, but doing these along with taking medication can greatly reduce the chances of relapse and the severity. It's important to note however that these need to be put in place while the person is stable, as no-one who is experiencing a depressed phase is going to be able to start going jogging, and equally no-one experiencing a manic episode is going to be able to start getting a good night's sleep.

So euthymia's all good, right? Well, not for everyone. After the bright rainbow highs of (hypo)mania, euthymia can feel dull and grey. Some people feel nostalgic about hypomania and may actively seek it out. Stephen Fry has talked about this, as per the illness he is at his most creative and productive when hypomanic. Seeking it out often means stopping medication however, and this is dangerous. People may also stop taking medication because they feel well, but this inevitably leads to relapse, and the more a person relapses, the more likely they are to relapse again, and the more severe those relapses will be. There is also the fact that medication will be less effective after starting it up again after having stopped it.

So basically euthymia is a desirable state, but achieving it doesn't mean that you are cured and it certainly doesn't mean that you can come off of your medication. It can be maintained through medication, but that alone isn't enough and therapy and a healthy lifestyle are also necessary. It's all about balance.