Euthymic: Mood, Definition, State, Disorder, Dysthymia, and More (2024)

Euthymia is a state of living without mood disturbances commonly associated with bipolar disorder. While in a euthymic state, you typically have feelings of cheerfulness and tranquility, as well as an increased level of resiliency to stress.

One way of understanding a euthymic mood is to think of it in terms of the severity of the symptoms. If depression is on one end of the bipolar disorder continuum and mania is at the other end, euthymia lies somewhere in the middle. That’s why you can think of euthymic as living in a state of “normal” or “stable” moods.

People with dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder), or other types of mood disorders, may also experience periods of euthymia.

Being able to identify a euthymic mood is important when trying to distinguish between states of mania or depression, and states of calm and steady moods. When you’re in a euthymic mood, you’ll likely experience periods of calmness and happiness.

Euthymia is dramatically different from the periods of sadness and hopelessness that you feel when experiencing depression, or the extreme peaks of energy you experience when in a state of mania.

While the experience of euthymia varies from person to person, some of the more common signs that you’re in a euthymic mood include feeling:

  • happy
  • calm
  • content
  • congruent
  • enthusiastic (this is typically a moderate
    enthusiasm)

Another area to consider when talking about the role euthymia plays in bipolar disorder is the presence of anxiety disorders. A 2016 study found that anxiety disorders are quite common with bipolar disorder.

Researchers found that anxiety is prevalent even when moods are adequately controlled. In other words, you may still experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder when in a euthymic state or mood. This points to the need for treatment that also focuses on anxiety disorders.

While a euthymic mood is considered a relatively normal or steady state, there are a few ways that you can experience euthymia.

  • Euthymia
    with reactive affect
    . A reactive
    affect
    in a euthymic state means that you respond appropriately to the
    subject of a conversation.
  • Euthymia
    with congruent affect
    . Congruent
    euthymia
    is evident when your emotions match the situation. In other words,
    the emotional reaction you have is congruent or in agreement with the situation
    you’re experiencing.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness, which means there’s no cure. Because of this, you’ll often need to work with your doctor and therapist to manage your symptoms. Treating bipolar disorder includes assessing euthymic moods.

Since the moods associated with bipolar disorder range from depression to mania, with euthymia in the middle, it’s essential to include this middle or steady state in an overall treatment plan for bipolar disorder. Documenting the amount of time spent in a normal state — not just in depression or mania — can help direct your type of treatment.

Standard treatment options for bipolar disorder include medication, psychotherapy (talk therapy), and lifestyle changes.

Medications

There are several medications available for treating bipolar disorder including mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and in some cases, benzodiazepines.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help you understand bipolar disorder and come up with ways to manage the moods. Popular forms of therapy for bipolar disorder include cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychoeducation, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.

Additionally, a clinical trial found that a particular type of therapy (well-being therapy) is an effective intervention during euthymic states.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes are part of an overall treatment plan for bipolar disorder. Some of the more common modifications include eating a healthy and balanced diet of regularly timed meals, seeking out family and friends for support, taking the time to learn about and understand your mood swings, and making time to talk to a professional.

If you need help finding a mental health professional, then check out our FindCare tool here.

If you’re part of the population living with bipolar disorder, you know all too well how the full range of moods can affect your daily life. From the low periods of depression to the high states of mania, managing these ups and downs can feel like a never-ending battle.

With that said, taking the time to assess, understand, and manage the “middle” or euthymic mood that many people with bipolar disorder spend half of their time in, may help with developing coping strategies to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Euthymic: Mood, Definition, State, Disorder, Dysthymia, and More (2024)

FAQs

Euthymic: Mood, Definition, State, Disorder, Dysthymia, and More? ›

Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Sara Lindberg — Updated on December 21, 2023. Euthymia is a state of living without mood disturbances commonly associated with bipolar disorder. While in a euthymic state, you typically have feelings of cheerfulness and tranquility, as well as an increased level of resiliency to stress.

What is the difference between dysthymia and euthymia? ›

They refer to separate – negative vs positive – aspects of affectivity associated with depression. Dysthymia is a depression-presence factor, while euthymia is a depression-absence factor.

Can people with dysthymia still be happy? ›

With dysthymia, symptoms occur almost daily for months or years. They are usually low-grade or moderate. People with dysthymia may be functioning in their lives. But they may not feel a lot of joy or happiness in what they're doing, experiencing or accomplishing.

What is the difference between bipolar disorder and PDD? ›

What is dysthymia called now? The American Psychiatric Association renamed it persistent depressive disorder (PDD) in the DSM-5. PDD can be differentiated from major depressive disorder and the bipolar disorders by its long duration (two years+) and the absence of mania.

What is a euthymic mood disorder? ›

Euthymic is a mood or feeling of being optimistic and in control, where a person is doing well, tranquil, functioning. It is often associated with the phases of bipolar disorder between manic and depressive episodes. 1.

Is dysthymia a form of bipolar? ›

These depressive disorders (major depression, dysthymia) are different from bipolar disorder in that (with these individuals) there has never been a manic, mixed, or hypomanic episode;7 in bipolar disorder, the mood alternates between episodes of persistent pathological sadness and episodes of extreme happiness and ...

What is the difference between dysphoric and euthymic mood? ›

Both affect and mood can be described as dysphoric (depression, anxiety, guilt), euthymic (normal), or euphoric (implying a pathologically elevated sense of well-being).

How do people with dysthymia behave? ›

Individuals with this disorder experience a depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, as well as at least two of the following diagnostic symptoms: (1) poor appetite or overeating; (2) insomnia or hypersomnia; (3) low energy or fatigue; (4) low self esteem; (5) poor concentration or difficulty making ...

What happens if dysthymia is left untreated? ›

The condition: is less severe than major depression, but lasts for longer periods of time. is marked by persistent feeling of mild depression or irritability but may cause more extreme feelings from time to time. is often undiagnosed, and if left untreated can lead to more serious mental health and behavioral problems.

What is dysthymia called now? ›

Dysthymia is a milder, but long-lasting form of depression. It's also called persistent depressive disorder.

What is the hardest mental illness to live with? ›

One of the Most Painful Mental Illnesses: Living with BPD Pain. Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.

What is the new name for bipolar? ›

Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. These shifts can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Why is bipolar called the genius disease? ›

Bipolar disorder is linked to a specific kind of intelligence. The connection between intelligence and bipolar disorder is largely seen in those with high verbal IQ (VIQ). ¹ This type of intelligence is associated with creativity, abstract reasoning, and comprehension through spoken and written words.

Can a normal person be euthymic? ›

Euthymia is the status quo for most people without a mood disorder,” says Roger S. McIntyre, M.D., FRCPC, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of Toronto. “For people with a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder, euthymia is a state of mind they are trying to achieve.”

Is ADHD a euthymic mood? ›

Adults with ADHD may be distractible, fidgety, and forgetful. Affect/mood: Affect usually is appropriate and may be elevated, but it should not be euphoric. Mood usually is euthymic, except for periods of low self-esteem and decreased (dysthymic) mood.

How long can euthymia last? ›

Euthymic periods are sometimes brief, but they can potentially last for years. One study found that nearly 40% of participants stayed euthymic for 2 to 5 years, while almost 12% went 6 to 10 years without a depressive, manic, or hypomanic episode.

What is the difference between mania and euthymia? ›

When you're in a euthymic mood, you'll likely experience periods of calmness and happiness. Euthymia is dramatically different from the periods of sadness and hopelessness that you feel when experiencing depression, or the extreme peaks of energy you experience when in a state of mania.

What are the two types of dysthymia? ›

Niculescu and Akisal proposed that dysthymia be divided into 2 subtypes: anxious dysthymia and anergic dysthymia. They described the subset of patients with anxious dysthymia as having pronounced symptoms of low self-esteem, undirected restlessness, and interpersonal rejection sensitivity.

What is the difference between euphoria and euthymia? ›

While mild fluctuations in a sense of wellness are normal, euthymia refers to the absence of extreme, distressing, or unrealistically euphoric emotional change.

What is the opposite of euthymia? ›

A person with anhedonia—another word mostly used by health-care professionals—doesn't find pleasure in any aspect of life. “It is kind of the opposite of euthymia,” Dr. Cohen says.

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