Is This Typical of BP

I think it was actually someone on PC who once said that, according to research, BP is a disorder of moods, and BPD is a disorder of emotions (aka emotional dysregulation). I'm not saying you meet the criteria for BPD (there are lots of traits, the most salient being fear of abandonment).

I don't think emotional dysregulation is a part of Bipolar Disorder, except in the sense that when we are stable, or at baseline, we are who we are, with all of the additional challenges we may face. One of those can be emotional dysregulation (I think in response to environmental stimuli), which I think is different from mood/BP episodes, which often come out of nowhere, or perhaps as a reaction to stress, etc. Additionally, I think emotional dysregulation can last for a relatively short period of time, whereas Bipolar mood episodes last, usually, for a week or more.

The self care talked about here is key and I've read some wonderful options!

At least at baseline, I don't suffer from this, but I do suffer from a great deal of anxiety. Self care (breathing and other exercises recommended by my therapist) has helped a lot. Also, for example when driving, I tend to catastrophize and be convinced that I'm going to get in an accident; reminding myself again and again that this is not the case, helps. Focusing on what I can control has helped, as have other suggestions from my therapist. Talking about it with her has also been helpful. When I'm hypomanic, all anxiety disappears; oh what heaven that is!!! Until it takes a nasty turn to mania.

I wish you the best of luck. With the self care you have mentioned, and endorsed, it sounds like you're on the road to conquering this, or at least ameliorating it!

You're right that it could simply be a comorbid thing. In my case, if not due to the bipolar, it might be due to bad reactions to stress. I can rule out BPD in my case, as my psychiatrist tested for that, plus my mother has it so I know the symptoms.

On the other hand, I definitely notice the anger issues being worse during depressions or mixed episodes, so I don't know, it still feels like part of the bipolar symptoms from my perspective, maybe related to irritability. The bad reactions to news are different; in my case I think those are probably due to some past trauma that I have.

Thank you, Gabyunbound. To me, it feels like anxiety is what fuels the extreme rumination. In other words, I become anxious (and angry and hurt) about something that happened then the looping rumination starts.

It's the looping rumination that becomes the problem for me, in that the same sounds/scenes/words/environment/emotional reactions, etc. keep repeatedly "playing" in my mind like a broken record. Eventually, after 2 or 3 days of the rumination, I start feeling crazy from the repetition. (For example this is the 3rd day of my mind churning over the incident on Friday. I feel like there's a switch in my brain that won't turn off).

Actually, I found this article; it's really interesting! I'd place a bet that many people with BD struggle with this:

Bipolar Disorder and Grappling With Obsessive Thinking | bpHope.com

Yes, well put, thank you. I didn't quite manage to put it into words before, but this definitely applies to me as well. By the way, I noticed the article also mentions obsessive thinking about things you're enthusiastic about. I've experienced that, too.

Emotional regulation and personality is something I've thought about a lot recently. I am trying to determine the difference for me (as you can see from my previous reply). Perhaps I feel a bit uncertain about the concept of personality. I think it is supposed to be a fixed part of you, yet what if emotional regulation changes over time? What if you are able to work on it with lifestyle changes (e.g. diet and exercise) and through mindfulness? Other aspects of my personality, like how extroverted I am, adventurous, empathetic, etc tend to not change so easily unless anxiety or depression interferes, but emotional regulation does seem to change for me. I am also wondering if personality is how sensitive your emotions are or how you respond to them? Like if you find yourself quick to anger, but realize it's just an overactive emotion and calm yourself down rationally, which part is emotional regulation?

Anyways I am rambling, just something that was on my mind. Thanks for letting me think out loud.