Well, sometimes events can trigger a cycle. It doesn't mean there is a control button necessarily, but learning certain events that might trigger you is an intrigal part of wellness when it comes to bipolar. I know I shift automatically on a pretty steady cycle, I'm also rapid cycling with mixed states. But events can lengthen or shorten those cycles. It's also why we have the trigger icon you can place next to your topic, because for some people even reading about other's events can trigger things in them.

Emotions are chemical reactions, so because we're already sensitive to chemical reactions knowing what will make a strong reaction within us is key. Learning to avoid or change our thinking around triggers to avoid the reaction is part of bipolar. My MIL who lives with me also has these same reactions and knows when she's getting triggered into a cycle.

Some examples of triggers are sometimes big events: a pet or loved one dies, you get a parking ticket, you're going through divorce. Yes, these trigger other people emotionally. But with bipolar it could trigger you in unexpected ways or longer periods than other people.

Other trigger examples are smaller things other people may not be aware of: reading sad news stories or watching sad things on t.v., forgetting to get something at the store when you were just there, standing in a slow moving line, listening to a friend talk about problems when you're actually not doing that well.

It's not about "controling" or snapping out of things or being at fault. It's about learning what things may cause you to swing too far one way or the other, and doing your best to cope and get through without having a major episode. Knowing when to walk away or warn people that you're not doing that well. It's a good reason to keep a mood and trigger tracker for a while.

I hope that helps. I'm sorry you are having a hard time, but I agree if you don't feel your T or pdoc are a good fit, you should look for a different one. Maybe they will present things to you so you don't feel blamed.