What is one of the hardest things about being manic-depressive? Knowing that most things can be a trigger into mania or depression. I’m looking at going back to work and the first thing I have to ask about a job is “could this job trigger a positive or negative mood swing?” The answer is almost always yes. You end up weighing likelihoods, which is guess work for the most part. I just have to resolve myself to trying to make the best guess I can. Everybody is in this boat to one degree or another, it’s just manic depression adds a extra special sauce to the situation. No point in complaining about it… it wouldn’t do any good.