Is the Change of Direction in Bipolar Disorder Triggered by Certain Thoughts and Thought Patterns?

Question by Caitlin Buelt: Is the change of direction in bipolar disorder triggered by certain thoughts and thought patterns?
If not, what triggers a person suffering from said disorder to change direction and go from manic to depressed or vice-versa?
legulize- I have social anxiety and I’m pretty sure general depression. When I go out on a Friday or Saturday night to a meet up with an organization I’m a part of and go to dinner afterward, I come up…I feel better, become more talkative, and feel more happy and content. It’s obvious that getting out and around people and being part of something causes that. So my environment and interaction triggers me to feel happier, more confident, etc. This is why I think if I got a job and into a routine, my depression would go away and my anxiety would get much better. Are you saying environment and interaction doesn’t really trigger bipolar people to change from manic to depressed or vice-versa? Am I maybe just normal though? Is bipolar really just a brain chemistry problem rather than environmental?
^I actually think i meant to ask answer Bolt about the above, but anybody answering/replying is good!

Best answer:

Answer by DV
There is usually a crash (depression) after an extended manic episode.

There is also far greater possibility of mixed episodes (where you have both mania and depression at the same time) I’ve had 5 episodes and 3 of them were mixed.

Everyone has different triggers… one of my manic triggers funnily enough, is falling in love. When I fall in love with someone I have to watch my thought patterns really carefully or I could fall out of reality completely. And this sucks because I’m single and don’t have anyone in my life right now, falling head over heels for someone is not hard. I fall in love easily :P

Answer by The Great Kitten Kaboodle
I had a friend who wad manic depressant and all he needed was to go home. He got the right meds before he left. When he got home he lived a normal life, got married, had kids, and started a successful business.

This cat paid his friends ticket home.

Road to Recovery: Tamara W.
A former drug and alcohol addict recounts her addiction and discusses her sobriety. Sept. 25, 2011.