[thebosswoman]

Hello

Please excuse my ignorance, and can anyone shed some light on this for me?

I thought my moods were a random thing but controlled better with my meds but reading a lot about triggers, it seems that is not really the case. Am I right in thinking certain stressors will bring on a high or a low? Like people?

Thanks

Mary

[gravyyy]

Sure bosswoman.... Anything can be a trigger and with bipolar disorder it's often that our cycles are kicked off by a trigger whether or not we can identify it. If you have a certain person in mind that could be a trigger then that's greatthat you have that insight. Others are triggered by time changes, holidays, certain TV shows. ANything really... even smells can be triggers. The biggest thing I have found to be helpful is to journal every night the day's events. This was in a week if I start to feel depression kicking in I can flip back several days and see what was going on and what might have started things (like going to bed late, not sleep9ing well, skipping a meal, etc.). It's all a juggling act with bipolar disorder and I'm sick of it but there isn't much choice. The more triggers you can identify and predict, the better control you will have. This isn't to say that every cycle has a trigger, sometimes it can be internal and you have no control. But often triggers are external and within our control. Hopefully this post makes sense... I'm really tired!! Good luck.

[questionable]

I saw a very manic person today. It doesn't happen very often but, when you work with the public you see lots of people who are "off" and sometimes they're manic as all hell. I was jealous, how sad is that? Now I'm sad tonight. Was taking on a lot of responsibility and stressful things 'cause I love stress but, now I'm not so sure, so yea, triggers happen...perhaps this won't be one of them.

They happen with good events and bad events. I hate bipolar disorder.

[lonegael]

I agree with gRAVVY. t's also good to think of it in such terms. Stress is often seen as a general trigger for most of the otherwise biologically based psychiatric disorders. we just don't handle it well. It causes all sorts of funky things to happen to the body and to the chemistry, not to mention the brain and the thoughts. So yep, people, situations, lack of sleep, memories, all that can cause a lot of stress and trigger an episode. Most things about people have a rhyme and a reason, but not always easily seen or open to be dissected. Hugggssss!

[wing]

I have learned to handle triggers by recognizing the physical symptoms and gaining control of my body first. There are so many triggers, and one can be thrown at us without warning, that I think it is important to break the loop that happens between the mind and body.

[Vita]

Sure, there are triggers.
My triggers a consequence of living the way I like.
When a demanding, stressful period ends my mood can rise excessively. i do more enjoyable things and feel great. Having much to do at work, coping and making a difference has the same effect.

Of course, this can not last for ever. Maybe the depression is due to exhaustion.
Long periods with plain, ordinary days also makes my mood drop, but seeing exhibitions, avantgarde theatre, or interesting lectures helps a lot.
Maybe my ADHD drives me.

Alltogether, I mostly thrive, but will try to take some more care.

[sugahorse1]

Identifying your triggers is the first step. Thereafter you need to have a look at which can be eliminated from your life. And the balance you need to put an action plan together for, to be able to handle them better. I'm busy working on this with my T.

I tend to get triggered into depressive episodes VERY easily. Stress, lack of sleep... Sometimes i land up in a mixed episode when I feel I've had enough and need to lash out.
I am busy going thro my life to see how I can decrease my stressors.