Articles and blog posts relating to triggers and living with bipolar disorder.
Finding useful information and nurturing connections with friends, family, and people with common interests are good things. Depression, demoralization, and isolation aren’t. Today we communicate and interact in a manner unprecedented in human history. Social media—such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.—are mainstream technologies that allow us to communicate and connect with each other online....
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If you can quickly become overwhelmed when there is too much noise, it’s OK to allow yourself to escape the chaos without feeling guilty about it. Many of us with bipolar disorder deal with hypersensitivity, in one form or another. The most prevalent form of sensory sensitivity that I experience is “auditory overload.” For...
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The changing of the seasons and Daylight Saving Time can cause sudden mood shifts and instability, but there are tried-and-true methods to stay stable. In my mind, Alaska is a “bipolar” land, with its two extreme seasons marked first by an intensity of light during the long days of summer followed by long months...
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Gaining insight into your triggers and treatment strategies to manage mood swings takes patience and dedication, but it can payoff by helping you achieve stability. There is a term that is used in the mental health world called “insight.” In the dictionary, insight is defined as, “the act or result of apprehending the inner...
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Learning your high-risk triggers is important so you can practice avoiding them to maintain stability. By Julie A. Fast I consider bipolar disorder a genetic illness. I was born with it and my symptoms showed up unannounced when I was in my late teens. I didn’t control this. But I can control the...
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Understanding what can trigger bipolar disorder symptoms is important—and you shouldn’t feel guilty for avoiding what can make you sick. By Julie A. Fast Bipolar disorder is so easily triggered. It’s a rough illness that way—even the things we look forward to can create serious mood swings. People get sick from planning a...
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Healthy sleep is one of the most important—and difficult—aspects of maintaining stability with bipolar disorder. Luckily, there are five simple rules you can follow to get those vital ZZZs during daylight saving time and throughout the year! I really have a love/hate relationship with daylight saving time (DST). When I was younger, I always...
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It’s true that people with bipolar disorder find it extremely helpful when they track their moods; here are three top-rated apps to help with that: #1 iMoodJournal This app is part personal journal and part mood tracker; tracking not only mood, but also sleep and medications. It can also track symptoms and energy level...
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Bipolar flashbacks can take a toll on the mind and body; but there are ways to manage this symptom The past year has been remarkable in the lifecycle of my bipolar disorder because it is the first time I have experienced a total lack of symptoms. I could describe it as stability, or as...
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Everyone has them, but triggers are deeply personal; here are six ways to tame yours: #1 Identify the stressors Learning what our hot buttons are is the first step toward developing strategies to tame your triggers. Be on the look out as to what tips you off balance? What’s the environment or activity? If you’re...
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I’ve been without a manic or depressive episode for nearly 2 months now. It’s the first time in many years that I have survived the holiday period without questioning if I would even see the new year. It is because of my history at this time of the year I’m not the biggest fan of...
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Have you ever wished you could just ‘grab’ your mind and make it happy? You Can! Read on to learn how. By Allison Strong When I went to bed on Christmas Eve, I hoped to be looking forward to the holiday, filled with anticipation. Instead, I was obsessed with a negative train of...
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People who have a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, are often thought to be dangerous, scary or criminal, but this is the furthest thing from the truth. It is not only respectful to take into account the people you are hurting by throwing around slanderous humor, but to get educated before you joke. It...
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Are you a morning person or a night owl? Since good sleep is vital to bipolar management what techniques do you use to balance out your sleep schedule? DEFINITELY A MORNING PERSON. The majority of the time I am awake before the alarm goes off at 7 a.m. I love getting multiple tasks/errands done...
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No matter where you go or what you do, politics is going to affect your life. You may hate the debates and the media coverage but you can’t escape the impact it has on our lives. Anything and everything you do and see in your daily life is affected by politics. This goes without saying...
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With honest reflection of what sets off your bipolar disorder, you too can curb your triggers and cut your symptoms in half. This is Julie Fast for bp Magazine. As you can see, I’m doing my video from my car today. Normally, I like to set up a location, make it beautiful, plan...
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My bipolar diagnosis seems to come with a hypersensitivity that causes the smallest of situations to trigger a mood swing. I’ve always been told that I am sensitive, emotional and stubborn. At first when I was a child it was ‘you’re just like your mother’ or ‘you’re just like your grandmother’. Then it developed...
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Are you a night owl or the morning lark? Here’s what you need to know about chronotypes, circadian rhythms, and getting your sleep in sync. By Donna Jackel Cass has always been in love with sleep. “I can easily snooze until 11 a.m. or noon,” says Cass, 28, of Virginia. “I’m always ready for...
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With our media-driven culture, it’s important to learn ways to stay in touch & informed without being overstimulated By Jon Press Hey everyone—it’s Jon Press for bp Magazine’s bphope online community. I’m a huge fan of staying connected and being “in the know”. I’m on a computer all day at work. I like...
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One might think that twelve years’ post-diagnosis, nine years as a writer on mental health issues, three years as a peer supporter, and a consistent follower of my own advice on medication compliance and coping skills, that I am mostly clear on my rapid-cycling bipolar II illness. In the last four months, I’ve experienced two full cycles. The...
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