confused about triggers

I've been reading lately about how events such as moving, marriage, having a baby, a falling out with a loved one, lots of work/stress, disrupted sleep patterns or daily routine etc. can 'trigger' a bipolar episode - either hypo/mania or depression. I can totally see this with regard to mania but I'm confused how one would determine the difference between, for example, becoming depressed due to a breakup or bad fight versus a breakup or bad fight triggering a 'bipolar' depressive episode?! I thought one of the defining characteristics of bipolar mood swings was that they are due to fluctuations in brain chemistry and not in life, though obviously you can't really fully separate the two. Do you think it has to do with a sadness that then takes on a life of its own and develops into a depression?

I'm asking mostly out of curiosity/confusion but also because I'm in a very stressful situation and feel like I may be slowly dipping into a depression and am wondering if this is merely environmental or if I should be thinking about adjusting meds. I just moved across the country, just got married to someone who still lives on the other side, spent all of my money last month on stupid things and am now broke and unemployed in NYC, just started a very interesting but competitive/high-stress program, am worried I could be pregnant, found out my now ex-boyfriend was probably cheating on me etc. etc...I'm just really tired and feel like isolating in this crazy chaotic city.

I think life events can trigger a true bipolar episode. Sometimes my episodes have no triggers but sometimes they do. I categorize them as an episode when nothing I do gets me out of them. Like last year I was in a terrifying car accident. No one was hurt by my car was totaled and we could have all easily been killed due to someone's stupidity. It triggered a terrible depressed episode. I mean anyone would be depressed after that but for me I became suicidal and fought constant urges to self harm. That's what made it a bipolar depressed episode for me. But in April I had a depressed episode for no discernible reason. So for me it can go either way.

You are under a lot of stress and it could be triggering a bipolar depressed episode. That doesn't mean you need a med adjustment right away - maybe coping skills could help you through these life changes. But if it turns into a true episode like my car accident one did, a med change might be in order. But I guess you need to find a new treatment team in your new city, right? Don't put that off. You don't want to wait until you're in an emergency situation because it could take awhile to get in with anyone. At least find a therapist so you have someone to talk to about all the upheaval in your life.

Excellent advice! I agree with the poster above.

I think there are general depressive symptoms when you go through a breakup or whatever -- but those normally just fade away...unlike my 3 month depression after I moved into my house....that's the difference I think, in mind.

Stress and lack of sleep can send me into mixed episodes....I always thought people were exaggerating how badly mixed episodes suck...it's like I haven't been able to catch my breath for a couple few weeks now...

Thanks so much for this, makes a lot of sense. I've definitely been putting off finding a therapist because the thought of finding/paying for health insurance here is so intimidating I'm currently weaning off zoloft (partly because I'm going to run out and don't have insurance), which might be contributing to the downswing, which is what I was referring to re: med change...

So thankful for you all, as always!!

It's double hard for me as I also have borderline traits to and triggers from that as well. I can usually tell the borderline triggers. My bipolar moods seem to come and go as they please. If I am in a manic period I'm sure I have more triggers too! My biggest trigger seems to be any disruption to my normal routine. Now that could just be my personality. I really have no idea how to tell the difference from a mood trigger and personality trigger

Personally, if something affects me greatly, whether happiness, sadness, excitement, nerves, etc. I am triggered.

Any state of mind I am in, becomes amplified. My moods are amplified.

Stress changes brain chemistry. People with bipolar disorder have unstable brain chemistry to begin with, so these changes can easily trigger severe episodes. The defining difference is the severity of the reaction. Anyone would be upset after a break-up, for example, but someone with bipolar might unable to get out of bed or perform basic duties at their job, have suicidal or self-harming urges, etc.

I thibk it's change in general I like routines And try and keep it simple

A trigger can be damn near anything. Routine is just so important in the Bipolar world. If sleep goes a bit off , or missing a dose or a few of medications or too many commitments and Doctor appointments, Longer work hours or days etc etc ..

I think this is why "self care" is so important for all of us everyday.. Even when things are running along smoothly dont forget the meditation to keep your self grounded, exercise , healthy diet, making time to just do something you enjoy.

I am fine with a change in routine. I like it, in fact.

I used to think this too. But just in the last couple of years, I had an epiphany. I noticed 2 kinds, and my reaction to each was opposite. There is change that was MY idea, which I do ok with. There is change that is foisted upon me (or, not so much my idea). That I do not do at ALL well with.

See, I'd always thought that I was so good with it, because I was thinking of all the "turn the world upside down" changes I'd done. Big stuff, giant moves to places unknown etc and my attitude was, "bring it on!" Change! Yeah!

Then it dawned after the most horrid episode of my life.

My psych had cautioned to be careful before a big move I was going to make. I acknowledged it would impact, but kind of poo-poo'd it. I'd done such things SOOOO many times before, right? Thing was… yes, I had free will. No one MADE me go. But I was DEEPLY conflicted, wanting 2 mutually exclusive things. It was not REALLY my idea. And despite the determined attitude as I headed out with….. all hell started breaking loose before I even got there.

My thinking is kind of like Nightside of Eden said. Brain's wiring is wonky to start. Unpredictable and prone to tilt more easily than the average bear's, regardless of why. Some things that others might consider very stressful don't phase me, but the stupidest "minor" things can totally send it sometimes. Even after decades, I don't know for sure what it will pull. Still, it's been helpful to try to parse out the variations of stress (like above).

The pterodactyl, your situation has some very relatable elements (to the one that brought on the epiphany), so I really feel for you. For me, both situational and medicinal intervention was needed. It didn't come out of nowhere (some have, this didn't), but it didn't really matter. It'd gone seriously tilt, wasn't going to just go away. It can be hard to tell, but go with your gut. Even if it started out situational, if it's latched on and going out of control, you still need to take care of it. Even if it's not a straight up chemical issue, sometimes that adjustment can bring us to where we can deal with it (something like getting someone up enough out of depression to be able to benefit from therapy kind of thing, ya?)

One of the main reasons I resisted my DX, was because ALL of my episodes have been triggered. I never just "get depressed" out of nowhere, neither do I just "go manic" out of nowhere. Without some sort of trigger, I am basically normal. My dad is the same way. He used to be so crazy, he was hospitalized 6 times. He has been totally stable and med-free for almost 20 years simply because he eliminated all triggers from is life.