Introduction:
Bipolar disorder is known for significant changes in mood, from euphoria to deep depression, in a short amount of time. Most of us are aware of typical triggers of this illness, like stress and trouble sleeping, but there are other, less well-known things that can also cause bipolar episodes. Here, we'll look at seven different triggers that are often missed, bringing to light new and vital information that will help you understand and deal with this condition.
Changes in the Seasons:
Changes in the seasons can affect our moods, and study shows that they may also affect bipolar disorder. Changes in the time of day and weather can throw off our internal body clocks and hormone levels, which can lead to mania or depression. When summer ends and autumn and winter start, you may be more likely to have a depressive phase. When spring and summer start, you may have manic or hypomanic symptoms.
Recent studies have shown that when the seasons change, people with bipolar illness may have changes in their mood and energy. For example, the depressed phase of bipolar disorder may be worse in the winter, when it is darker and colder. This is called "seasonal pattern specifier" or "seasonal affective disorder" (SAD). On the other hand, spring and summer may cause the illness to change into a manic phase.
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Gut Microbiome:
The trillions of bacteria and other germs that live in our digestive system make up the gut microbiome, which is very important to our health and well-being as a whole. Surprisingly, it also seems to affect mental health, especially in people with bipolar illness. The gut-brain axis is a way for the gut and the brain to communicate. It affects our mood, behavior, and ability to think.
A recent study has found that people with bipolar disorder often have an imbalance in their gut microbiome. This means that harmful bacteria grow too much and good bacteria grow too little. This dysbiosis can cause the body to have more inflammation and the amounts of neurotransmitters to change, both of which are linked to the development of mood disorders. The gut-brain axis goes both ways, so changes in the gut bacteria can change how the brain works and vice versa. So, keeping a healthy environment in the gut with a balanced diet, probiotics, and other methods may help with managing bipolar disease.
Childhood Trauma:
Traumatic events that happened to you as a kid, like being abused emotionally, physically, or sexually, can have long-lasting effects on your mental health. Such events can change the structure and function of the brain, making it harder to control emotions and more likely to develop mood illnesses later in life. Trauma in childhood can affect a person's mental health, leading to problems like anxiety, sadness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also, research has shown that people who had a traumatic childhood are more apt to develop bipolar disorder than people who did not have a traumatic childhood.
We don't fully understand how childhood trauma increases the risk of bipolar disorder, but it is thought that the stress and emotional dysregulation caused by trauma may cause changes in the neural circuitry of the brain, making people more prone to mood swings and extreme changes in emotions. Early help and therapy that focuses on dealing with past traumas can be very important for managing bipolar symptoms and better mental health as a whole.
Social Media Overload:
The rise of social media has changed how we connect and talk to each other, but it has also made it possible for mental illnesses like bipolar disorder to get worse. People with bipolar illness can have more emotional reactions, trouble sleeping, and trouble with their daily routines if they use social media too much. Unrealistic comparisons, cyberbullying, and FOMO (fear of missing out) can cause worry and mood swings, so managing social media is an important part of taking care of someone with bipolar disorder.
Social media platforms are made to get and keep our attention, which can lead to compulsive behavior and less time spent on things like sleep, exercise, and face-to-face conversations. Also, because social media is controlled, it can give an unrealistic view of other people's lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and depression. People with bipolar disorder should set limits on how much they use social media, limit their exposure to content that makes them feel bad, and put real-life connections and self-care tasks first.
Interactions between Medications and Drugs:
Medications are often used to stabilize mood and stop bouts in people with bipolar disorder. But some drugs and medicines can combine with treatments for bipolar disorder and cause mood swings. For example, some people who take drugs may experience mania. In the same way, booze, recreational drugs, and even some over-the-counter drugs can make mood-stabilizing drugs less effective or cause bad side effects.
People with bipolar disorder need to tell their doctors about all the medicines and other drugs they are taking to avoid interactions that could be harmful.
Excessive creative efforts:
Many people with this illness are more creative and artistic than other people. Creativity can be a great tool, but too much of it or too little control over it can cause mood swings. During manic phases, a person may be very focused and full of energy, which can lead to times of artistic brilliance. However, when the manic phase ends and depression sets in, motivation and self-worth can drop. Finding a balance and learning to control creative urges can help keep mood swings under control.
Creative activities can be both therapeutic and cathartic for people with bipolar disorder, giving them a way to share feelings and thoughts that might be hard to talk about otherwise. During creative bursts, it's important not to push yourself to the point of tiredness or ignore other parts of life. To use creativity in a good way and keep your mind stable, you need to be moderate and aware of yourself.
Disrupted Sleep-Wake Cycle:
It is well known that sleep problems can cause bipolar disorder attacks. But most of the attention has been on how much and how well people sleep. Researchers have only recently started to look into how irregular sleep-wake cycles might be linked to bipolar disease. If you often stay up all night, go to bed late, or go to bed at different times every night, it can throw off your circadian rhythms and make it hard to stay in a good mood.
A stable sleep-wake cycle is important for general mental health, and changes can cause people with bipolar disorder to have manic or depressive episodes. Research shows that not getting enough sleep can cause changes in hormones that control mood and make mood problems worse. Setting up a regular sleep schedule and practicing good sleep hygiene, like not using electronics before bedtime and making sure you have a comfortable place to sleep, can help keep your mood stable and lower the risk of mood episodes.
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