[crystalrose]

what can trigger a mood change? What influences how fast a mood changes?

[1963.Susan]

oh my goodness, crystalrose, ANYTHING can trigger a mood change. something you ate, something you saw on TV, something somebody said to you, something somebody DIDN'T say to you, the way somebody looked at you, the fact that they DIDN'T look at you, where you are in your menstrual cycle, the season it is, the time of day it is..................

see, anything.

it's a good idea to keep some kind of a mood diary & perhaps list what happened just before your mood changed - maybe you can get an idea of what triggers YOUR mood changes.
susan

[crystalrose]

wow s hi t that sucks. I think i know what did this time but not sure. Don't want to spin in to uncontrollable high. Argh. Getting no sleep. Its 4am feels like the energy of 11Am ttoo awake. Pdoc wil just drug me if i tell her. Not telling her,

[VickiesPath]

One of the most useful topics in outpatitent therapy (and some inpatient programs) is the topic of triggers but like Susan said, it's highly individual and usually it's really hard trying to identify them all. But, it's really important work.

[cathylee]

Originally Posted by crystalrose

what can trigger a mood change? What influences how fast a mood changes?

my mood changes are just a natural thing........example after a low, there will be a high. but, when there a major stressors in your life, your mood is always affected. are you up or down?

[Naturefreak]

Crystalrose
Someone once suggested a log where when your mood changes to try and write it down as to what caused the mood change.
This will give your Psychiatrist a better idea of why this is happening.
Something I am going to try to practice. Hope this helps

[Dave255]

The normal things that change non bipolars moods. Like feeling sick makes me feel depressed, if good things happen it can trigger a high mood.

Lots of time it just happens.

[Amazonmom]

Hormone changes tend to affect my moods. Pregnancies and postpartum send me depressed. My miscarriage should have sent me severely depressed but I think the Lithium really has provided a bottom for me even if I am still depressed.

My manias are fairly wimpy as far as mania goes, but always follow a depressive episode. I only remember two episodes of hypomania that would meet the diagnostic requirements. SSRI drugs switch me to hypomanic quickly, and would probably go fully manic if I hadn't advocated for myself and complained about my "bad Zoloft trip".

Sometimes I get depressed with no obvious trigger but those don't get as bad as the triggered episodes. I think I have had 8 depressive episodes.

Therapy is what helps you figure out the puzzle of what triggers your episodes and what could help you stop an episode before it really gets started.

[Phoenix1985]

Pretty much anything, though for me lately it's been feeling insecure in my relationship.

[phoenix47baby]

Anything can affect a mood change, even a movie or news event and especially chemistry---chemicals can really affect. When we feel good a certain chemical is released and thus, the same thing when we are not feeling so good. The catch is to do something that makes you feel good!

Originally Posted by crystalrose

wow s hi t that sucks. I think i know what did this time but not sure. Don't want to spin in to uncontrollable high. Argh. Getting no sleep. Its 4am feels like the energy of 11Am ttoo awake. Pdoc wil just drug me if i tell her. Not telling her,

You really need to tell you pdoc what is going on. Lack of sleep will spin you into mania. Sometimes we just need to take meds to sleep.

[jameskramer]

hey, there. you know even the lack of sleep can cause mood changes crystalrose. for me i just came off of an extreme manic episode, where i was unable to sleep for a week. i talked with my pdoc. and we decided if it were to get worse to call him and get a meds change. that is important to have a pdoc that you like and trust.

[lonegael]

With me it can be lack of sleep, too much stress for too long, any sudden, major adrenaline shock (has happened after traffic accidents, climbing incidences, dog attack...)It can be simply sitting in the same room with someone else going through a manic or hypomanic swing, too much coffee..... I have come to the conclusion that life can get me started

[Dave255]

It is good to notice what triggers your mood changes and ways to avoid it.

Obsessive thoughts, racing mind can lead to heightened mood. Thinking about big injusticies in the world can lead my mind to race, so I remind myself to stop thinking about it and that stuff just happens.

[romanjames2004]

If I am thinking about something and my thoughts drift away to somehting that angers me like my family at times, I turn into a different person. I can actualyl feel it. I will go from sad to rebellious, mean, and "*****y' as my sister says in two seconds. I notice that my family really doesnpot like it. My sister will go "Whoa Ooookayy..." lol It's just one of those things is biplar people live wiht I guess lol.

[lorna]

Number one trigger for me is stress. It completely shuts me down, I am unable to deal with anything if I am at a certain level of stess

[solemnversifier]

Usually I can tell by the beginning of the day whether it's going to be a "good mood day" or not.
But my triggers are usually the weather (esp. in this cold, cold, michigan winter), or even if it's cloudy or rainy. It won't ruin my mood if it is cloudy for just one day, but if it persists, I will gradually get more and more depressed. I have bipolar 1, so I have many more depressive episodes than manic.
Thinking about big issues such as the war, future generations, the economic situation, etc.. also may leave me depressed for a long time after I'm even thinking about them. Maybe days. Maybe a week.
Just thinking about things can get you reeeaaaallly down. If you are having swings, I suggest you try to occupy your time with things that aren't going to make you stop and brood over things. That's just my suggestion.