My experience and observations:

Mood episodes can come about, no matter the external stimuli.
Mood episodes can also come about due to external stimuli.

Just examples:

If a person is stable for a year, then goes through a severe physical assault (external stimuli/stressor), which then brings the person into a severe BP depression.

If a person is stable for a year, then suddenly loses 4 family members in a traumatic car accident, which then brings on a severe bipolar depression.

If a person is stable, attends a rowdy concert, then starts an episode of hypomania.

I have witnessed all of the above, external events (stressors) which shifted mood, bringing on a mood episode in response to the external stressor/stimuli.

Am I misunderstanding?


WC