[Lillyleaf]

I've heard that stress triggers episodes and can make things worse.

How about you guys? Is that true?
~Lillyleaf~

[token451]

100% true for me

Absolutely. Which sucks because I'd like to be able to work and live my life a bit more but too much stress and back I go into an episode.

[A Red Panda]

Yes. Stress is very often a contributing factor!

[Mercedes87]

Very true. Happens to me.

[gayleggg]

Absolutely, true for me. Especially my depressive episodes.

Absolutely, unequivocally yes.

[Confusedinomicon]

("Bad") Stress makes everything worse for everyone. There is good stress too.

[Crazy Hitch]

Very true for me. Stress threw me into my last episode of mania last year. Ugghhhhh.

[smadams]

Stress is huge for me as well. It seems to have a way to drive my mood bonkers, making things very chaotic. Finding things to help encourage relaxation is always a good. Just listening to relaxing music may help keep things under control.

[jadedbutterfly]

Most definitely... usually throws me into a mania

[thickntired]

Good and bad serious life events can cause mania. For example my marriage made me manic.

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[Samanthagreene]

Yup, thus the statement "you aren't depressed, just stressed."

Yup. For me it ranges from a simple "yes" to "Good God Almighty!".

But! Remember! People experience/perceive/feel/cope with stress differently (non-BPs too). You could put a group of people in the exact same situation, and for sure you would not get a uniform response. It's the same for BPers. Sure, we're more likely than the average bear to have trouble with it (to whatever degree), but don't let that make you overly afraid to try/experience/put yourself in situations simply because they will include stress! You don't know until you try. If you're really questioning something, have your support in place. Just sayin'. (Learned that one the hard way.)

I'll admit there are certain things that would be so incredibly stressful (especially when considered in conjunction with my particular traits/personality) that I know for sure they'd send me over. I don't do them.

Personal experience has been that sometimes I do surprisingly well under quite stressful conditions. Sometimes it's numbness/denial/dissociation, but quite often it's real. Other times, it doesn't take much at all. Sometimes I whoppingly miscalculate. Like about a year and a half ago. Psych knew I was seriously underestimating. Turned out 'seriously underestimating' was an understatement. Which is itself an understatement(!)

Blah, blah, blah. Point is, you'll get a feel for the levels and types that affect YOU. And how much. Yes, the stress thing is real. Definitely. But don't let it make you so overly afraid that you sell yourself entirely short.

[x_BabyG_x]

Yup. Good and bad stress swings me upwards!

[nycgal448]

I get manic after depressive episodes and stress.

[Qbug223]

Stress triggers irritation in me. Which leads to feeling totally crappy. I hate stress.

[elevatedsoul]

stress (among other triggers i don't know) causes me to have massive panic/anxiety attacks to the point of almost passing out
i wish i could figure out all of my triggers..

[Yoda]

yes, I worry more when I am stressed. I wonder how I will cope as an elderly person when I have so much trouble coping now when I am middle aged.

[medicalfox]

Stress can trigger psychological and physiological disorders/diseases/symptoms which is why it's important to live a less stressful life as possible and have good coping skills for managing stress.

[ayaachoub]

Stress is definitely a major factor which induces episodes, and in some cases, psychosis.