I don’t usually feel tranquil when I’m in what I consider to be my flow state. I’m comfortable, but also aware that all my gears are running and that I’m probably going to feel hungover when it ends. After reading some other replies, I wonder if what I have been calling flow is not flow at all but one of the traits that may place me on the bipolar spectrum – so I have recently learned.

It starts with either a random curiosity or a faint hint of inspiration – potential not fully realized (intense aha! moments happen while in the flow). Thousands of ideas at once, too much to handle, but it’s exhilarating and I can’t stop until I’ve reached some kind of closure. I will thirst and starve and have a pounding headache and need to be in bed 6 hours ago, but the ideas keep coming and I’m on fire. I feel like a ran a marathon when it’s all over. No regrets 🤷🏻‍♀️