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Triggers for Bipolar Episodes – Part Two

By David Oliver

There are several triggers for episodes of Bipolar Disorder. In "Triggers for Bipolar Episodes – Part One," we discussed the first four triggers. In Part Two of the series, we will discuss the next four episode triggers:

Trigger #5—Inconsistency in Taking Your Medication:
Taking your medication inconsistently (forgetting to take your medication) can be a trigger to a bipolar episode. Stabilization of your Bipolar Disorder depends largely on medication dosages reaching a certain level in your system, which means taking your medication every time you’re supposed to. If you forget doses, or don’t take them on a consistent basis, you will not reach this level, or the level will rise and fall, which may trigger a bipolar episode. There are tools to help you remember to take your medication consistently—such as medication calendars or checklists placed where you normally keep your prescription bottles, medication planners, or plastic medication holders into which you separate your doses. Plastic medication holders come in several kinds—from as simple as just AM/PM separated doses to some with up to six separated dose compartments—so there should be one that will meet your needs, and you won’t be triggered into a bipolar episode because you forget to take your medication.

Trigger #6—Going off Medication:
Going off your bipolar medication can be life-threatening. Medications for the disorder are directly involved with neurotransmitters in the brain, and if you stop taking these medications, it can not only trigger a bipolar episode, but may even have fatal results. Sometimes people with Bipolar Disorder can get frustrated having to take their medication and decide to stop taking it; however, you need to know that going off your medication is a very dangerous thing to do. You may feel no affects at first, but then the lack of medication can trigger a bipolar episode.

Trigger #7—Lack of Proper Treatment:
Untreated bipolar can become as disabling and even affect daily functioning itself. Lack of proper treatment is not much better, and can trigger a bipolar episode. There are several treatment modalities, including regular visits to a psychiatrist, therapist, and doctor. Most importantly, you must take the medication prescribed for your Bipolar Disorder, which will help most in regulating the mood swings, and prevent triggering of bipolar episodes. If you do not get proper treatment, you will continue to suffer from recurrent episodes.

Trigger #8—Problems at Work:
Problems at work can also trigger bipolar episodes. Medication taken for Bipolar Disorder can help physically to regulate your mood swings, but there are pressures that come in a work environment that medication cannot control, and problems from work pressures can trigger an episode. You may or may not want the people you work with to know that you have Bipolar Disorder, for example, so you may feel pressure from having to hide the fact that you have the disorder. Personality conflicts are another example of work pressures, in addition to the work itself. All these pressures can build up and may trigger an episode.

About the Author

David Oliver is the founder of FreeBipolarCourse.com, a one-stop source of information on how to cope and deal with bipolar disorder. Sign up for one of his FREE Mini Courses on bipolar by visiting FreeBipolarCourse.com

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Featured Article:

Romancing Your Spouse

"Romancing your spouse?" Ok, I can already hear you yelling at me! I know, it's a strange concept, but hear me out. Some of the longest-running marriages have lasted because of this very concept.

You may be thinking that this has nothing to do with Bipolar Disorder, but it does. Even the best of marriages has some strain on it - the pressures of day-to-day living, at the very least. However, Bipolar Disorder puts additional pressure on your marriage because of the issues you have to face in dealing with the disorder, whether you are the survivor or the supporter.

No matter how long you've been married, the suggestions in this article can put some "spark" into your marriage. And if you've only been married a short time, putting these suggestions into place now can help ensure a long, happy, healthy marriage (of course, you will still have to do some hard work yourself to make that happen as well!).

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