Identifying and managing triggers...

I used to have all sorts of ideas about triggers and plans to deal with them but last week when I got sick with a really bad cold (which always would end up with me depressed for a month ) Instead of following all the ideas for avoiding depression that I read and tried, I just accepted that I was sick and needed to rest and didn't fight it or blame myself like I used to, and I actually enjoyed the time to rest and came back with no depression
I was wondering what kind of triggers you have identified, do you see early warning signs of mood changes and are there things that actually stop an episode

I've learned to stop in my tracks and talk sense to myself. Sounds silly, but it actually works for me. Sometimes.

I also have mantras that I repeat that keep me grounded in one place.

I avoid known triggers, especially when I feel "twitchy" like some episode is coming.

If I feel I can be easily triggered or am in an episode, I avoid as much stimulation as I can. It all snowballs for me. So I stay in and enjoy some solitude usually.

I've also learned that sometimes when I feel depression coming, I feel a pit in my stomach and then it travels to my heart and it hurts something like impending grief, and then BOOM--depression. So, I've learned when I feel that pit to stop in my tracks, fully experience the thought and the feelings, say to myself, "Those feelings are in a cloud which is passing by, so I have no choice to let it go." And I let it go. Sometimes it helps completely and sometimes only a little, but it does help. I can't stop the feeling, but I can choose to grab onto it (and it'll grab back) or embrace it and then it flow away from me, like that cloud.

I also know to do what I need to do for ME when having an episode. And the people around me who love me accept absolutely when I tell them I have to be alone, or do this, or do that. They look after me out of love, but of course realize I'm an adult and dealing with something they cannot even comprehend in real life terms. I try to be gentle with myself, do nice things for myself, be in places I love, distract myself (try to tether myself back to earth) with projects etc (even if they are chaotic projects, like my painting often tends to be).

Those are a few things...I know I have more, I just can't think of them.

As for what the triggers themselves are, I do know them, I just can't bring them to mind. It can usually be anything with me. One little thing and off I go. But, I also know when an episode is about to happen and that itself is often a trigger for me. That's when I try to use the stuff above the most.

If I'm well I'm quite resilient to stress, but if I'm not at 100% things that shouldn't be stressful can be a major trigger. In the past year I can most times take a step back and see that it's the illness not me that is causing me to feel stressed and just the knowledge helps me feel a bit more in control.

As far as stopping an episode for me it sometimes just comes for no reason, but I have definitely gotten better at managing the illness and that is more prevention than anything else. I agree with just accepting how we are feeling whether it's tired etc. especially when we are physically ill. We are humans, we can get tired and sometimes we need rest. I can tell the difference between that and depression tiredness and during that time I truly just push through and continue with my routine otherwise I tend to spiral down. My red flag for depression is my mouth gets tingly.....I know weird, but that's what happens!

I think the weather triggers my depression. Im really not sure how to avoid that. My mania though is triggered my many things though; excedrin, coffee, energy drinks, someone being rude.. theres a l.o.n.g. list...

I'm glad you avoided a depressive episode BlackPup. I wish I knew my triggers and how to avoid them. I know stress is one of them, but I don't cope with stress well either. Being alone doesn't help either. I really don't know what triggers my depression, but I sure wish I did.

I think identifying triggers and having corrective measures up your sleeve takes a real amount of experience, and probably therapy to teach you to cope with these things.

I've come to realise that certain things trigger me, but I cannot yet put a list together.
I'm beginning to realise when my anger and frustration is "normal", and when it's me over-reacting due to the BP.
The next step will be to learn coping mechanisms.
But this all takes time, so I have no option but to wait.

My depressive triggers, are mostly me beating myself up in my head, saying I'm not good enough, or I could have done something better. Many times when I get depressed it's not warranted by anything from outside stressors, it's all me. When I do things 75% of the time, I hear my mother's voice in my head, saying I could have done it better. Another trigger is my husband, when he is filled with rage. I know the rage is not directed towards me, but it's soooooooooo hard to remember that his rage is not directed at me.

The triggers of my mania, are mainly people and the stupid things they do, or don't do. I don't ever get that 'happy' mania. Most of my mania, comes as me being frustrated and agitated.

There's other triggers I have, but it seems like I only figure them out, once I'm already in one of my moods.

Queen, I empathize, I seem to be my very own depressive trigger as well that SUX, my hypomania? No idea what could trigger it, I wake up like that...

How am I supposed to control things that are seemingly non-existent/completely beyond my control?

I need a magic pill. Think I may have found 1 for the depressive (Risperidone), but stupid medical aid is making wait AGAIN so I've been without it for a few days...ugh

Guess I have no choice but to see how deep the rabbit whole goes
Wish me LUCK!!!

Ha! I told my therapist that on Tuesday. He said you can't put coping skills in a pill form, if that what the case people wouldn't need therapists and he would be out of a job. LOL.

LMAO His words ring true! But what about people like me? My only coping mechanism is a facade, and when my brain can't handle faking anymore... Untriggered Psychotic depression. MY PILLS NEED TO FIX ME! But I guess for now I'm exploring this darn rabbit hole )