The energy of mania or hypomania can be tempting, but stability offers more. Here’s how to choose it — and why it’s worth it with bipolar disorder.
Hypomania — and even mania — has a certain allure, including increased energy, productivity, and excitement, especially after emerging from bipolar depression.
Although the thought of “giving up” mania in favor of a more stable life may not exactly conjure pizzazz, striving for stability helps avoid the unmanageable — and sometimes dangerous — highs that often lead to the devastating lows of depression.
While those elevated states can feel exhilarating, they often come at a cost: fractured relationships, impulsive decisions, financial fallout, or even hospitalization. Mood stability doesn’t mean giving up your passion, creativity, or drive. It means channeling those traits in ways that are more sustainable and less self-destructive.
Over time, a steadier life can offer something even mania can’t: peace of mind, stronger connections, and the ability to truly show up for yourself and others, day after day.
While the boost of energy from hypomania or mania can be tempting to cling to, true well-being comes from balance in bipolar disorder. Here’s why choosing stability is worth it — and how it can lead to a more grounded, fulfilling life.
1. Remember, You Can Still Be Creative, With or Without Mania
It’s a common belief that creativity and elevated mood states — like hypomania or mania — are inherently linked. But research tells a different story: One systematic review found that bipolar disorder isn’t more strongly associated with creativity than other mental health conditions.
In other words, the absence of mania won’t prevent you from accessing your creative energy, even if it feels that way at first.
Allan W. can relate. After a year of consistent medication and therapy, he’s gained a new understanding of what he’s capable of without impulsive bursts of inspiration.
“Being stable just brought me new life,” he says. “It takes time to build up your own motivation without that sort of external drive.”
2. Accept That Change Can Be Challenging
All change can be difficult — even the kind that’s ultimately for the better. Pursuing stability can feel frustrating, especially when we bump up against old habits or emotional resistance.
Making a lifestyle shift means embracing the slow process of building better routines and mindsets, and learning how to bounce back when we slip into old patterns.
Research has shown that routine plays an important role in mood regulation. Specifically, the circadian–behavior loop — how we function physically, mentally, and behaviorally over a 24-hour cycle — is tied to our emotional well-being. Psychosocial interventions targeting routine have shown promise, including those delivered through digital self-management tools.
3. Elevated Mood States Are Temporary — So Focus on What Lasts
Hypomania and mania don’t last forever — even if, in the moment, they feel like they could. These elevated states eventually pass if treated, often leaving behind consequences that take far longer to recover from.
That’s why it helps to think about where you want to put your energy: into short-term surges, or into long-term sources of stability like relationships, purpose-driven work, and personal growth.
As psychologist Daniel Garcia, PhD, puts it, “The excitation of mania will not last. It runs its course. It always does. But things like trust, love, and meaningful goals — those can endure.”
Redirecting your focus from temporary highs to lasting values isn’t always easy, but it can be deeply rewarding. These are the things that remain, support you through the lows, and build a foundation for the life you want over time.
4. Recognize the Impact of Manic Episodes on Others
Manic episodes don’t just affect you — they can have a profound effect on those around you, too.
Matthias H. says he chose to embrace stability not only for his own well-being but also for the people in his life. “It’s not just you that you’re making things difficult for — it’s hard on other people in your life,” he says. “You just make a wreck of things all over the place, and they have to do the cleanup.”
Research supports this reality: individuals with bipolar disorder are more likely to experience family and psychosocial conflict, lower levels of social support, and increased suicidal ideation.
5. Identify the Positive Aspects of Stability
Licensed mental health counselor Colleen Greene, PhD, encourages people to focus on the gains that come with stability. “You might say, ‘I know my family loves me, I know who I can trust and who I can’t, and I know me for who I am, which is more than my mental health condition,’” she says.
Mood stability brings real, tangible benefits. By recognizing those improvements — in relationships, identity, and self-awareness — you reinforce why it’s worth continuing to prioritize a balanced state of mind.
In addition to appreciating the positives of stability, you can also explore the potential strengths often associated with bipolar disorder. According to one paper, these include empathy, resilience, spirituality, and realism. Acknowledging these qualities can help improve clinical outcomes and support a fuller sense of self.
6. Do More of What Brings You Joy
Stability doesn’t mean giving up joy — far from it. In fact, one of the most effective ways to support mood balance is to actively seek out and savor the parts of life that make you feel good.
Michelle S. finds fulfillment in doing small, meaningful things for others — like picking flowers and leaving them on a friend’s porch, or baking cookies for care packages.
Her instinct is backed by research. One study found that making others happy often brings more personal happiness than focusing solely on ourselves.
“There’s a lot of joy out there that doesn’t have to be mania,” Michelle says. “These things take a reasonable amount of time and energy, and still make me feel like I’m contributing to the world.”
Stability may not feel as thrilling as a high, but it offers something far more lasting: trust in yourself, stronger relationships, and a life you can count on. It’s not about giving up who you are — it’s about giving yourself the chance to thrive.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
- Nascimento da Cruz T et al. Creativity in Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. October 18, 2022.
- Murray G et al. Maintaining Daily Routines to Stabilize Mood: Theory, Data, and Potential Intervention for Circadian Consequences of COVID-19. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (CJP). September 10, 2020.
- Dou W et al. Family and Psychosocial Functioning in Bipolar Disorder: The Mediating Effects of Social Support, Resilience, and Suicidal Ideation. Frontiers in Psychology. January 28, 2022.
- Greenwood TA. Positive Traits in the Bipolar Spectrum: The Space Between Madness and Genius. Molecular Neuropsychiatry. December 9, 2016.
- Titova M et al. Happiness Comes From Trying to Make Others Feel Good, Rather Than Oneself. The Journal of Positive Psychology. March 2021.
UPDATED: Originally posted May 6, 2022