Anxiety and Stress in Bipolar Disorder

I sit here thinking about my Toastmaster's meeting and the anxiety of public speaking. Though I need to practice speaking to groups to market my book, "Mind Gone Awry," I never get over my tense muscles and desire to withdraw into a corner every time I have to make a speech. Such is the anxiety and stress I live with.

Stress as a Trigger
Stress is a major component in activating the genetic inheritance those with bipolar disorder have, and which results in major mood swings, acting out, and delusional episodes. Those with such a predisposition are more easily triggered into a stress response than are those in the population-at-large. Stress can build up, combining over time, to bring about a break with reality. Put another way, those susceptible to stress have a much lower frustration level. While learning coping skills can reduce the degree of vulnerability, having had a major mood swing, manic or depressive, increases the probability it will occur again and with a lower level of stress as a trigger.

Triggers of Bipolar Disorder
Impatience over getting ahead and making up for lost time, isolation, loss of a relationship or job, financial struggles and job struggles are just a few of the stressors which may cause an episode or depressive mood. Because there is a biochemical predisposition, the stressor which signals a relapse is often relative to the individual. An individual with bipolar disorder is not always aware of what will be a stressor leading to a mood swing and how much tension can be tolerated. Identifying these vulnerability factors should be a major goal.

Ways to Reduce Anxiety

• Exercise
• Listen to or create music
• Meditate
• Conversation with friends and/or family
• Maintain a stable routine
• Prayer
• Painting or creating a craft
• Appreciating nature
• Take up a hobby