Do regular events in life impact you more?

My question is, do you think having bipolar might cause you to experience life events more strongly than many people? Might life events trigger an episode on either end of the pole for you?

I ask because I got in a serious car accident on Sunday. Someone ran a red light and hit my car, totaling it. Thankfully me and my husband and son walked away with only minor injuries - my husband has a concussion, I have a banged up knee, and my son is completely fine (thank god).

I spent the first two days in shock and yesterday started feeling really depressed over the whole thing. Today I just wanted to crawl back in bed and I cannot wait for the work day to be over. I am only comforted by the fact that I have an extra day off on Monday and I only have to deal with these monsters (as I lovingly call my students) for three more days.

I would not call this a bipolar depressed episode because it was clearly brought on by life events and I believe many non-bipolar people would have the same reaction. I lost my car and very nearly lost my family. I am so angry at the other driver for disregarding the rules of the rules of the road so blatantly and then jumping out of his car to blame me, not see if we were ok. And I am now terrified to drive through intersections and let my husband to anywhere without me because a car accident was one of my anxious ruminations and now it has come true.

I feel today like I can barely function. I know that many non-bipolar people would feel the same but I have to wonder if they would feel the intensity of this all too familiar depression like I do. This feels no different than any other depression to me except it has a clear cause.

So what do you think?

I think life events definitely play a big part in how feel. And I do think we are more sensitive to life events. Life events play a big part in my bipolar issues, especially the one that affect me negatively. They can trigger a deeping of depression, just like you are having now. Hopefully, it will ease up for you soon. In the meantime, take care of yourself.

I totally agree that normal life events impact me more. I can be feeling relatively good (which isn't really that good) and if the slightest thing happens I'm back to being severely depressed. An example: my LTD company called to ask for my family doctor's records and I totally flipped out - hysterical, suicidal ideation, etc because I knew it would delay my claim. I totally overreacted. If my son does something minor - I yell and scream so my husband has taken over dealing with him. It's a terrible, viscous problem for me.

Thank God you and your family are ok. I hope you can get past the depression quickly.

Definitely I believe life has a bigger impact on us. Different ppl have different triggers. The sad part is sometimes we don't see our behavioral change until someone points it out to us. I know if something is already bothering me and something unrelated happens I tend to go off the deep end. Cause for a LOT of apologies. I think that is partly why I really don't go around other ppl much (not even family) because just certain things will cause a chain reaction.

Yeah, it's more intense for us. However, give yourself time. It's been a huge shock and it's only few days. Be kind to yourself.

oh, totally agree about the life events!

you know before you posted this, i never even thought about it- but yes, it is the case for me

Very grateful that you are all OK ...

I think in some ways BP'ers feel "more" but then again there is really no way to compare. I think your reaction is pretty typical after having a scarey accident like that.

Be kind to yourself and rest

I think it's a very normal reaction but watch that it doesn't become a depression episode.

Bipolar episodes can have triggers too - "life events" can cause mania or depression too. Like taking on too many shifts at work and not sleeping can cause someone to go manic.

I think we do feel everything more acutely than 'normal' people, although it's hard to compare experiences because we don't know any different.

I also think a lot of how we react to life events depends on the type of personality we have. Some of us are indeed oversensitive to all sorts of stimuli, both positive and negative, and we're going to take the bad things harder than someone who's less high-strung. I know I've had mood episodes triggered by outside influences, and they're every bit as severe as the ones that come seemingly out of nowhere.

Best thing I can say to the OP is that her reaction to what happened is VERY understandable, and not to worry too much about whether it will lead to a mood episode. Not all dark clouds are storms.

Im so glad you are all ok. What a scary thing to happen. It is certainly understandable to feel a bit depressed, but be aware so it doesnt make you depressed.

I feel that with Bi polar I do not react to stress well. It doesnt really matter what caused the stress, its the stress itself that tips me over one way or another. When my depression is caused by something it feels just as bad as an untriggered depression, but I find it easier to deal with when there is a cause, because I know it can be solved again (usually). When there is no cause for it, no stress trigger, I really struggle.

The stress can be one big thing or lots of little things but rarely one event will cause a mood episode for me.

Well I'm taking the day off from work because yesterday was the first day I ever cried in front of my students. I have one super difficult class and I've been asking for help for two weeks and admin has kind if just brushed it off. Yesterday I just couldn't handle them on top of the depression from the accident. So I'm staying home today. Thanks for everyone's kind responses. I'm not too worried about this turning into an episode because it's only been a few days. I just need to get a new car. Then I can put this all behind me. I might be nervous at intersections for awhile but it's something I can deal with.

I just want to get the court date. I'm not going to be nice in court. Maybe if the other family had shown any concern or remorse at all. But since they didn't and still don't, they can forget it.

I'm so glad you all are ok.

To answer your question, yes. Stress throws me into a wicked depression and it's hard for me to pull out of it.

Hugs to all, and I think this was an excellent thread and discussion. I think it's true for some other MIs tho, not just BP, tho can def be true for us! I have heard several people say very recently and in recent past, and they have no Dx and basically seem ok, that these days, they sometimes have trouble holding it together! Peace and strength to you all! Sincerely, Anneo

I seem to get overwhelmed a lot quicker than pretty much everyone I know. So I guess, yeah, maybe we do feel things differently.

Stress always ends up sending me into a depression or a hypomania if it doesn't go away quick enough.

Yes it's a fact that life events have more of an impact on us. Were someone else might be bothered we might be upset. Where someone else might think some scenery is beautiful we might be in complete awe and feel connected to the universe. Where someone else might feel sorry for a person we might completely take it on as our own.
I said to my pdoc that poor old me don't always want to be more profoundly effected by circumstances than other people and she said that it is basically just going to be like that, it is bipolar, things just effects us more deeply.
Come to think about it, on which ever end of the scale, isn't it amazing that possess a heightened sense of feeling?

I've also seen regular events trigger folks into some MI issues!!!!!

Being in a car accident like that is extremely stressful. Stress is a major player in bipolar. Stress always affects me. Either moving me into a more depressed state or sometimes the opposite more manic.

Glad to hear you are all ok !

First, I'm glad y'all are okay!

Second, definitely! I know we do. My husband calls me dramatic, but I don't try to be. I know my sister who is also bp is the same.

Oversensitivity is a common symptom of BP.

I'm so glad you are okay. I think your reaction is completely appropriate and "normal." My reactions to things totally depend on my mood. For example, let's say I get a terrible diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer.

If I am in a depression, I start planning my funeral and secretly I am very happy because I am going to be free at last, and without the stigma of suicide. I decide immediately that I am not going to do any treatment.

If I'm stable, I feel sad,and I make plans for treatment and proceed with cautio. I definitely feel fear and uncomfortable about what is happening.

If I'm manic, I am convinced that I will fight to the end, that I will beat it, and that there is no need to be afraid. I start organizing my own fundraiser and I'm designing the t-shirts, all as I'm walking to my car from the doctor's office.

Same scenario.....three totally different reactions depending on my mood. This is what BP looks like for me.

Anyone else??

IMHO, we can at times, in some circumstances, fight harder not to b so triggered and overreactive than other
'normals". tho not always



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'normals



sometimes, tho not always,


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This is a good question.

Sometimes, yes.

Sometimes, no.

Yes is usually when I'm under extreme stress. It can flick my mood any direction. So for me, personally this does happen.

However, my "predominent" mood swings tend to have no underlying cause. I just flip.

I feel things more deeply than most, it can be overwhelming for me. My sister has been diagnosed BP and takes no medicine. So every so often she goes on a binge and even though it doesn't directly affect me it is on my mind, in the sense that I want her to get better. (Other people just want her to go away) As far as thinking your thoughts are responsible for the accident, I would talk to doctor about that because that could be an indicator of something other than BP. I personally do not see that as anxiety. Glad everyone is ok.