How do you handle possible powder keg situations when you are mood swinging? I have bipolar 2 and so that means I am a rapid cycler and lately have been very irritable.

So because of the fact I am irritable it would happen right now when I have family here that I only get to see every couple of years (my sister and kids) I only get to see them that often because they live in Germany. My bil is doing civilian work for the Army and that is where they picked to live. They will be there for sure 2 more years because my youngest nephew wants to graduate from high school there with all his friends.

Anyway I am about to go postal on Grandma because she just irritates the heck out of me and today she invited herself to breakfast with my mom's side of the family. Then when she heard we were going shopping after she tried to invite herself to that too but then I said where we were going to shop she changed her mind because scrapbook stuff just doesn't interest her. I was like score she didn't go. I know I shouldn't let her get to me the way she does but I don't know how not to do that yet. Wednesday when she was over for our family cookout she made me angry because she thought I was getting on to her about something and I told her I wasn't and she told me you don't have to be so crabby all the time. I thought in my head I'm only crabby when you are around but I did good and kept that little tidbit to myself. I realize she is getting older and needs to be treated differently but why does she have to be so hateful? I am always quiet around her because I am scared to death to say anything because I don't want to get my head bit off.

So when you are mood swinging how do you handle situations that could become ugly if you just blow your top? I have that family thing to go to tomorrow and I have to go since part of the people there are my sister and family and I haven't seen my other cousin and his family since Christmas so I have to go or it will be even worse if I don't show up.

Jan