I don't consider emotional reactions due to specific situations as part of my bipolar at all.
I realise I probably react very strongly to them because of said bipolar, but I don't credit the bp for my emotional state.

Like when my brother and father died, I didn't consider the ensuing depressions as an episode. I considered it grieving.

Now when I wake up at 3am wanting to do a load of washing and clean my room maniacally, and it lasts for longer than a week (like now ) or I wake up regretting I did so, for no reason I can pin point at all, and the days and weeks that follow is spent crying like my heart had been ripped out, now that's my bipolar right there...

There is however a grey area for me, stress.
If I have stress build up, either tiny things that I don't address or a sucky job situation that I can't change, this inevitably leads to a depressive episode. My MO is to feel it nipping at my heels, its a definite build up, then BAM! I have a fullblown meltdown about 3 months down the line, usually infront of an audience, and the depressive episode on average lasts about 2 months.

I have less of these nowadays though, I try to address stressful situations as they arise, as my body give me physical cues, and I have learned what type of jobs not to accept.