I've been reading lately about how events such as moving, marriage, having a baby, a falling out with a loved one, lots of work/stress, disrupted sleep patterns or daily routine etc. can 'trigger' a bipolar episode - either hypo/mania or depression. I can totally see this with regard to mania but I'm confused how one would determine the difference between, for example, becoming depressed due to a breakup or bad fight versus a breakup or bad fight triggering a 'bipolar' depressive episode?! I thought one of the defining characteristics of bipolar mood swings was that they are due to fluctuations in brain chemistry and not in life, though obviously you can't really fully separate the two. Do you think it has to do with a sadness that then takes on a life of its own and develops into a depression?

I'm asking mostly out of curiosity/confusion but also because I'm in a very stressful situation and feel like I may be slowly dipping into a depression and am wondering if this is merely environmental or if I should be thinking about adjusting meds. I just moved across the country, just got married to someone who still lives on the other side, spent all of my money last month on stupid things and am now broke and unemployed in NYC, just started a very interesting but competitive/high-stress program, am worried I could be pregnant, found out my now ex-boyfriend was probably cheating on me etc. etc...I'm just really tired and feel like isolating in this crazy chaotic city.