Hello everyone!

What I guess I'm asking about is 'situational' depression or hypomania (I think it's best to take mania out of the equation) vs a Bipolar 'episode' of depression or hypomania.

How good are you at distinguishing these? Do you increase or make changes to meds (per pdocs' recommendations) when it's situational?

I hear here and there that Bipolar episodes can actually *be* triggered. So how, in this context, can you distinguish between BP reactions and emotional reactions (being reactionary and/or emotionally labile)?

I've heard of people devolving into deep depressions, and then only later indicating that x, y, z happened to trigger it, after initially thinking it came out of the blue. I have been guilty of that myself, but therapy has helped a great deal in delving deep and figuring out what caused a certain mood. How do you figure this out in your life?

I also happen to believe that one can be triggered into hypomanic symptoms as well that turn out to just be wonderful happiness, joy or, on the other hand, anger at someone or a situation. Again, how to tell the difference?

I personally believe it is very important to make these distinctions because, first of all, having BP does not exempt any of us from being triggered into emotions that have nothing to do BP. Also, I don't think any of us want to change meds when it's not truly necessary, when the trigger and resulting emotions will not last, when they will dissipate, depending on the circumstances, without the help of increased dosages or changes in meds.

I think therapy can help enormously with these distinctions, I know it's the one thing that has helped me. What do you guys do to figure these things out?