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Bipolar disorder is a serious medical illness. However, mood swings can be triggered by events and emotions in your life. If you have to cope with some unpleasant, sad, or even happy events in your life, you may be at greater risk for manic and depressive episodes.
Triggers, also called stressors, are anything that may help cause a mood swing. Some common triggers include:
- Not having a regular sleep schedule
- Misusing alcohol or drugs
- Stopping your medicine
- Starting medicine for depression (in some cases), or other medicines and herbal products
- Having thyroid problems and other medical illnesses
Not everyone’s triggers are the same. Some people find that triggers can be things like:
- Seasonal changes
- Holidays
- Illness
- Disagreements with family or friends
- Problems at work
- The death of a loved one
Keep track of moods and triggers
It’s important to figure out what your own triggers are. One way to do this is to keep a Mood Chart (PDF Format). Use it to record your emotions over time, along with important events in your life.
After you keep a Mood Chart for a while, you may start to see patterns. For instance, you may see that you seem to get depressed when you’re away from home, or manic when the school year begins.
Figuring out your triggers on your own can be tough. It may be helpful to talk over the possibilities with your trusted friends and family.
Sometimes, talking with a doctor or counselor can help you figure out your triggers. Talking with a professional, who isn’t part of your personal life, may help you see things more clearly.
Avoiding triggers
Once you figure out what may trigger your mood swings, the next step is to learn how to avoid them when possible. That involves taking action.
For instance, you may notice that not getting enough sleep causes you to become depressed. Try to plan a regular sleep schedule.
You should also consider discussing your triggers with family and friends. That way, they can help you avoid your triggers, too.
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