Stability and Medication

I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder since I was young, but I am still struggling sometimes. I am trying to figure out what works for me. What is considered stable for you? Also, what kind of medications work best for you? When you are stable do you still have small episodes? With the medication I am on, do not have many manic episodes. I do sometimes have episodes of depression, but not to the point of disabling me. I go to school, and have a 3.0 right now. Sometimes I forget things easily. I think it might be a side effect of the medicine though. Do you think this is stable?

I was only stable for a short time while I was on Latuda + Lamictal last year. But I eventually became a zombie from my high Latuda dose (160 mg), plus I gained a ton of weight, so I stopped the Latuda and just on Lamictal now (400 mg).

I have tried many antipsychotics over the years, but too many side effects made me refuse them, which my NP dropped me over.

Stable for me would be no episodes. I am definitely not stable now, but I'll take this is over more side effects and weight gain.

As for if you are stable, I guess that's up to you to determine.

I think it's relative. I don't think of being stable so much as functioning. I have one or two significant episodes a year, even on medication, but I try my best to get through them unscathed. Functioning to me means bathing, eating right, being passionate about my interests, being social, being able to go to work etc. Even with my mini episodes I can usually do most of these things. But once a year or so I slip and don't act functional. That's how I would measure how well I'm doing.

Staying out of the hospital is stable for me. I try to avoid that as much as possible although I kind of enjoy meeting the other patients. The staff can be annoying but they have to put up with a lot.
Lithium and Invega work fairly well. Klonopin for insomnia and anxiety.
I feel kind of blah sometimes and sedated but it's better than psychotic or suicidal. I got a liberal arts degree but couldn't focus well enough to get the engineering degree I wanted. I've worked off and on but find it very stressful dealing with bosses. Applied for disability and waiting to hear back and have a lawyer lined up because everyone seems to get denied at first. So I'm kind of coasting through life and trying to make the most of the short time I'm here on earth.