Possible to trigger short-term mania? (oops!)

Lately I've felt off, spinning mind, kind of thought I was going a little crazy.

I stayed up and didn't sleep a lot, plus lots of caffeine, fish oil, natural supplements for probably a week. Could any of those things actually accidentally trigger mania?

Before that, I was quite depressed. Didn't get anything done, sat around all day, racing thoughts.

After that week, I suddenly felt like I *had* to do everything *now*. Stayed up late again (cleaned the kitchen at 3 a.m., spent the night cleaning out my closet, stayed up every night painting, etc.). Felt like my mind was completely spinning. Couldn't focus at work, couldn't watch TV, couldn't talk to people, couldn't write well.... mind was spinning, and those things were just too slow to handle. Isolated myself. Went out and explored the area randomly for hours....farther I had been out of the house in months. Felt compelled to do anything and everything that I could. Spent more money than I should have. Felt like I maybe could really achieve my goals and felt just... driven. Completely wired.

Then this week got depressed again. Walking across the house is more than I can bring myself to do most of the time. My mind is still spinning and I can't focus at all on work. I've gotten nothing done this week. Just dark thoughts and depression and being tired and racing thoughts. Self-isolating from everyone I know again, still racing thoughts, and just gloomy and lame.

I'm just wondering if
1) is it possible to accidentally trigger mania with sleep/caffeine/fish oil, and
2) can episodes back and forth really be so quick? A week or less each?

Just wondering if anyone can relate, or if this sounds possible. Not asking for a diagnosis.

I don't have a psychiatrist or a GP doctor, and can't get one. Literally no way to afford it, no health insurance, but I don't qualify for any low-income or Medicaid or community clinic programs. I've tried for 2 years to find one, but don't quality. Already lowered expenses as much as possible, got roommates, garage sales, additional jobs (can't find one that includes healthcare), etc., but it's not enough- so I can't spring for paying for a doctor out of pocket. Healthcare reform didn't actually cut my cost of healthcare, and I can't afford it. So, I'm on my own here, with zero chance of seeing a doctor of any variety... likely for at least another year. I have to figure this out myself, as there's literally no other option. I've tried everything. Just putting that out there, as I tend to get frustrated and defeated when people say "see a doc" when I absolutely cannot find a way to see one. I have to figure out how to maintain my sanity until I can actually get professional help, and that probably won't be until 2015.

Can anyone relate?

Is it really possible to accidentally throw yourself into mania with just sleep/supplements/caffeine?

Spicy food triggers me to mania.

Plus going to a party, loud music throws me in anxiety and mania.

I avoid parties and spicy food as much possible.

Lack of sleep + caffeine are known to trigger mania, yes. The regular eight-hour (not 12-16!) sleep is important for bipolars -- I am pretty much religiously ensuring I get my full night no matter what, and it keeps me stable. I don't know anything about fish oil triggering episodes.

This, of course, means a lot of people will try to trigger mania/hypomania by missing sleep and drinking coffee on purpose. But as you discovered you will crash back into depression (or worse -- trigger a mixed episode). It's not really possible to manage your disorder like this.

You mention "natural supplements" -- can I ask which ones? Some of them work a bit like antidepressants and can really throw you into an episode. Gym supplements are also very much discouraged -- they often contain derivatives of amphetamine, which are of course not exactly listed on the packaging.

Finally, I am sorry to hear about your financial/medical situation -- I understand you're in the States, so I can't really be of any help here. Hopefully some of the Americans here can help.

Big hugs and I hope you get better soon.

"Can't afford"-part would probably count for extra stress too, which isn't good either.

As for the sudden changes with a week or so; possible - yes. After a enviroment triggered mania I get a week or couple of mixed state going up and down every day or couple. Or you could be cycling fast, that's possible also.

And.. erm.. My random manias trigger mostly by stress. Haven't noticed staying awake/caffeine cause it. I can relate to urge of getting things done. Last day hypo I had I couldn't concentrate to anything else than cleaning my apartment..

I don't know anything about fish oil and natural supplements triggering mania, but I did take fish oil and didn't make me manic. Caffeine oughta' do it though. Especially not sleeping will make me manic. Hope you find your triggers and avoid them. Also, anything like Hydroxycut (since you're in the states you'll know what I am talking about) will make you manic. I've never taken it, but it's gives someone without a chemical imbalance a similar type of euphoria to mania so probably best to avoid crap like that from GMC. Good luck!

okiedoke wrote:I'm just wondering if
1) is it possible to accidentally trigger mania with sleep/caffeine/fish oil

Yes! Regarding fish oil, I have no idea. Caffeine doesn't do anything for me, but I've heard lots of people say that it makes them manic. As for sleep, that's on of my biggest warning signs/triggers. I can't overstate the importance of sleep in BD! For me, when I'm depressed I sleep at least 12h, usually a lot more. When I'm hypomanic I sleep no more than 4h, sometimes less. What I can't be sure of is if I don't sleep because I'm manic or if I'm manic because I don't sleep. Maybe both?

okiedoke wrote:2) can episodes back and forth really be so quick? A week or less each?

According to official criteria (as in DSM-criteria), yes. "Normal" BD episodes last at least a week, if I remember correctly, but those with rapid-cycling can switch moods from day to day and even within a day.

All the best, I hope your situation improves soon!
I wish I could tell you something that could help you get an appointment, but I'm afraid I can't! Try and keep a healthy lifestyle. It probably won't solve everything, but it might help you keep your symptoms under control. Healthy meals, exercise, no alcohol and drugs, good sleeping patterns and routines. Stuff like that!

Hey there,

I am one of the fortunate (can not stress enough how sarcastic I am being) people with rapid cycling bipolar. I've gone manic in the middle of class, sitting in the library, even in the middle of a conversation once. When I was worst I would cycle multiple times in a day and it was unbearable. Sometimes I feel like I'm riding this roller coaster further and further down into a deep depression and then I snap into mania like I reached my depression limit.

Lots of things trigger mania. Usually coffee is not a problem but things like alcohol, energy drinks, Adderall, cocaine, lack of sleep etc have been known to trigger mania. Before diagnosed with bp I had seasonal affective disorder and the light I had to use made me manic. It's so so so important to realize that mania is not a good thing. So many people with bipolar turn to drugs and other things to relive that feeling that anything is possible and by making the highs higher the depression becomes worse and worse. If you asked me the hardest part of bp is the temptation for mania. It's crucial to recognize things that trigger mania and to avoid them. When you feel like your thoughts are picking up try to focus on one thing. I usually press my feet in the ground as hard as I can so I can't think of anything else. Stops all my thoughts. It won't replace meds but it's the best thing you can do for yourself for now. Again, I'm not a doctor but I hope something helps you! Best of luck

Thanks for all of the replies.

I often stay up all night.

Tons of caffeine. Plenty of soda, caffeine pills/gum, caffeine shower gel (seriously).

I didn't think those two things could really trip someone up so much.

I've taken Hydroxycut and other diet pills over the years too.

Now I sometimes take Hydroxycut, but usually just take:

- 5-HTP ... 200 mg
- Fish oil .... 1000 mg
- Hyland's Nerve Tonic
- Lavender Pills

I've only taken 5-HTP about 2 weeks. Got incredibly depressed at first, but decided to keep trying it. Starting to feel a little better (less "oh *#(@(" when I first wake up). A week or two ago I couldn't bring myself to do anything-- no school, no work, nothing. Waking up was enough. I'm at least slightly more productive now.

Years ago I tried St John's Wort. I'm pretty sure that threw me into the gutter. I hardly remember that semester at all.

I once tried SAM-E. I don't think that did much to me.

Money is pretty stressful to me, yes. I'm pretty nervous in general, I'm sure that doesn't help.

It keeps happening.

Last week I go out and explore dozens of places in the city, clean house, do home repairs that have been waiting for a year or two. I got dozens of books that I planned to study for school. I still had depressive thoughts sometimes exploring the city, but not as bad as the usual 24/7 depressive thought marathon.

This week I'm sitting at home sleeping a lot, can't focus, am annoyed by most anything and everything (and everyone), don't feel like doing anything but can't relax.

The motivation and idea that maybe I could achieve anything that I had last week is gone. I keep trying to figure out the point in doing anything, knowing that I'm probably damned anyway.

Exhausting to keep doing everything at once, then crashing- or whatever this is- and not feeling like doing anything and feeling damned.

In the US there are psych clinics that will see people without insurance on a sliding scale financial basis. So, it may not be free, but will be affordable for your income. Also, they can help with getting medication at an affordable rate, so I'm told. I have insurance, so I don't know all the ins and outs of it. Also, if you have a county hospital, sometimes you can see a psychiatrist and get your meds on a sliding scale rate too, if they have a pharmacy. You could also call United Way or Salvation Army to see if they know of any other way in your area to get assistance.