[Iamalioness]

Do they go hand in hand... Stress and mania? Can stress bring on an episode? I was very stressed out this weekend and felt for a little bit like I was going manic. But I laid on the couch and made myself calm down. I've felt better since then, but it had me worried and I'm still on the lookout.

Sorry if i've already asked this question before...I couldn't remember if I had or not, so I thought what the heck, I'll ask again!

[lunaticfringe]

I'm not sure if stress can cause it but I am mildly manic right now and am noticing for the first time that my stress threshold is at an all time low...and looking back it's been like this every time I've been manic. When manic I can handle little to no stress without incident.

[~Christina]

Stress/Anxiety can be a huge trigger for me. I can tumble right into a hellish mania if I am not careful.

I'm glad you were able to calm down, Good job

[kaliope]

im going to say yes. i have ptsd. i notice you do too. my bipolar has been under control for years with meds. my ptsd has been effectively treated as well. however, the few times my ptsd has been really triggered, i have gone into a full blown mania. it so sucks.

[Capriciousness]

Yes! Stress is one of the biggest triggers for me. The problem is sometimes I FEEL really stressed when nothing in my life has necessarily become more stressful. Ugh.

[raspberrytorte]

Long term stress and anxiety triggered my last horrible manic episode, so I'd have to say yes.

[CopperStar]

If I get stressed out bad enough then I stay up all night even if I would have been able to sleep otherwise. It only takes 1-3 nights of insomnia before I am cruising into dysphoric mania. I usually try to self-medicate in some desperate attempt to sleep by nights 2 or 3, as well, which is like attaching a rocket to the episode and lighting it.

[BlackSheep79]

Work stress does this to me. I always question as you do is it stress or an episode? I recently went through months and months of the worst work stress. For awhile it started to go to you know what and I thought I was going into an episode. I think I did by reading others responses on this issue?

[cashart10]

I would agree with the previous posters. I can claim stress as my number one trigger (if there is a trigger).

[raspberrytorte]

Stress and major life changes can trigger me into a depressive episode too, so I think it works both ways.

[Crazy Hitch]

For me, personally, yes.

Stress has lead to hypomania which has lead to my mania, unfortunately.

[Wander]

Just last week I was in the middle of exams for university and dysphoric mania with psychosis hit me. I am pretty sure the exam stress has triggered this episode

[scatterbrained04]

Stress is also a huge trigger for me, but it tends to toss me into depression more often than mania. It depends what the stress is though. When I was school, especially college, the stress of getting a school assignment finished would toss me into hypomania.

[bbTofu]

As scatterbrained04 said, last exam session (February) tossed me into depression for a month and a half.

Assignments that were interesting (most of them), although being a great source of stress, I find them rather elevating .

[LettinG0]

With hindsight, I have begun to realize that stress....especially financial stress is a HUGE trigger for me......

[mjrwraith]

I have GAD and ADD with my bipolar and if anything gets me over a certain stress limit it's an immediate mania trigger for me. That is me though I think everyone is different and their triggers vary. However if it helps to know then yeah stress is a big mania trigger for me.

[Star Baby]

Stress can make me manic especially if I start to worry and then lose sleep. The worries from the stress can then turn into fears and cause anxiety. It seems to be a culmination of things through. The medication I am on to fight the deep depression helps me not to stress as much as I used to.

It's great you breathed through it and came out fine

[jacky8807]

stress lead to more frequent and severe episodes i would say. Im out of work and on unemployment and my stress had dropped a ballllllllion percent and im doing better

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by jacky8807

stress lead to more frequent and severe episodes i would say. Im out of work and on unemployment and my stress had dropped a ballllllllion percent and im doing better

Working has always been very difficult and disastrous for me, as well, but not in the beginning. Usually in the beginning I'll be feeling pretty pumped and determined, usually get compliments from my superiors which stokes my ego a little bit and makes me feel extra motivated. But then if I'm not on medication, eventually all of the stimulation starts making my brain whir at a million miles per hour. Then I start getting the insomnia. My performance starts dipping. Which stresses me out. The anxiety and paranoia start creeping in. It gets to the point where I've been up all night, and I'm supposed to get up in an hour to shower and go to work, but my whole body hurts, I'm getting mild hallucinations, I can't think straight. But I force myself to go. At that point I've started showing up for work unshowered, not dressed right, and my performance has taken a major dive. My paranoia is through the roof. Then comes the grand finale where I completely lose my **** at work and either quit or get fired. Then I spend some time recuperating. Then I try again. Over and over.

[jacky8807]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Working has always been very difficult and disastrous for me, as well, but not in the beginning. Usually in the beginning I'll be feeling pretty pumped and determined, usually get compliments from my superiors which stokes my ego a little bit and makes me feel extra motivated. But then if I'm not on medication, eventually all of the stimulation starts making my brain whir at a million miles per hour. Then I start getting the insomnia. My performance starts dipping. Which stresses me out. The anxiety and paranoia start creeping in. It gets to the point where I've been up all night, and I'm supposed to get up in an hour to shower and go to work, but my whole body hurts, I'm getting mild hallucinations, I can't think straight. But I force myself to go. At that point I've started showing up for work unshowered, not dressed right, and my performance has taken a major dive. My paranoia is through the roof. Then comes the grand finale where I completely lose my **** at work and either quit or get fired. Then I spend some time recuperating. Then I try again. Over and over.

YES!! i totally relate to this post. i managed tokeep the same job for a while but it was because i had some good ppl looking after me. in the end nobody could save me anymore

[meganb22]

Stress is a GINORMOUS trigger for me. It can send me into hypomania and/or depression. For the last couple years I have pretty much been in one or the other of those states. I had so much stress and anxiety-- I just couldn't handle it. That is one of my fears as I am trying to get back on my feet- trying to handle everyday life stress and not going into an episode.