[Homeira]

Am I the only one who dreads the holidays? I feel completely without any "x-mas-spirit", and I am only pretending to feel anything because I dont want to ruin everything for my son and my family.

[sideblinded]

You are not the only one who dreads the holidays. Christmas is the most difficult one for me. I am missing my mother on Christmas especially as she loved Christmas and went out of her way to decorate and make it a special time for myself and my sibling. I guess it is hard for me in a different way. For many it is a time of undue stress from family members and their particular antics so you are most certainly not alone.

Originally Posted by Homeira

Am I the only one who dreads the holidays? I feel completely without any "x-mas-spirit", and I am only pretending to feel anything because I dont want to ruin everything for my son and my family.

the holidays are hard for me.

spending it alone, with no prospect of any gifts, and no prospects of anything enjoyable over the season

sure i'll watch about 50 tv re-runs which i've seen every year, but the holidays are so over rated in my book

you decorate, plan, etc etc for what?

for it to be over before you've even planned it. that's what

it may be a little diffrent if i had someone to spend it with, bbut their we have it

[Mrs. Mania]

Hate this holiday!! I suffer anniversary depression on top of normal holiday blues. I have to put it on for everyone else's benefit while dying inside. Usually have to indulge in the spirits to get it done. I actually vomited this morning just knowing my mother in law made it into town.....ugh, give me strength my fellow bipolarites. Rocky roads are coming for Mrs. Mania

[Gray Rider]

It's a tough one this year as I've been down, I'm hoping to get myself together and go see family on Christmas

[Bipolartist]

Originally Posted by Mrs. Mania

Hate this holiday!! ... I actually vomited this morning just knowing my mother in law made it into town.....ugh, give me strength my fellow bipolarites. Rocky roads are coming for Mrs. Mania

Oh that sounds awful Mrs. Mania! Sorry you're having a rough time of it.

Also, thanks to Homeira for starting this thread. This year I'm trying something different. Instead of spending the day alone, I'm going to feed the homeless and hungry. I hope it doesn't end up being more depressing! I doubt it will. I volunteered a few weeks ago to check it out and it was good. I've never volunteered before!

[Homeira]

Any strategies to cope with the crowd of happy x-mas people? How to survive?

[Blue_Bird]

You're not alone as many people struggle to get through the holidays. I personally love them and this whole time of year

[Homeira]

For the past years I have gone into hypomania/mania in december, and x-mas and new-years were therefore truly amazing (for obvious reasons, he he...) But this year I am in a depressed periode, and now I just hate the thought of pretending to be happy. People are used to me being chatty and extrovert and doing all kinds of antics. So I feel like I have to be that ALL of the time, to satisfy their need to see me like that...

[Homeira]

Originally Posted by Bipolartist

Oh that sounds awful Mrs. Mania! Sorry you're having a rough time of it.

Also, thanks to Homeira for starting this thread. This year I'm trying something different. Instead of spending the day alone, I'm going to feed the homeless and hungry. I hope it doesn't end up being more depressing! I doubt it will. I volunteered a few weeks ago to check it out and it was good. I've never volunteered before!

What a great thing you are doing! I do a bit of volunteer work myself, and it is a really rewarding experience.

[pondbc]

I hate it!!!! Hate decorating Christmas tree, socializing. Still in bed while my husband and son prepare meals. I wish i could donate needed parts of my body so the lives of worthwhile others could be saved. Then cremate the empty shell.