[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

I just got mad at my kids. They were arguing. My son (younger) was trying to crate the dog, and my daughter (older) was trying to stop it while she was making lunch. The dog is huge and is just a year old. She gets in the way if you try to pet one of the other dogs in the home, which my younger one was trying to do. Right now, the dog is bigger than he is and she bullies him around a bit; I understand why he wanted to crate her so he could get some relief. My daughter was being compassionate...to the dog. She didn't want her to be crated for 'no reason'. Essentially, she turned it into a power struggle between the two of them. My son got really angry (we're working on processing anger with him...in therapy for about a year now), and yelled/screamed, then stomped outside and hid. In the meantime, I went out and got mad at my daughter for trying to control him over something that was immaterial and over which she didn't have to pick a fit. While I'm getting frustrated with her, she puts lunch on the table and walks back into the kitchen. I turn around, and the dang dog has stepped up on my son's seat and has started to eat his lunch from his plate. Which, if you're keeping track, wouldn't have happened if she was IN THE CRATE. Ugh!

Horrid feelings of wanting to go throw everything out - the house is cluttered and it's making me feel like just getting rid of everything instead of trying to deal with it properly. This is a common feeling I get when I'm triggered. Also battling thoughts of throwing away a bunch of my own stuff that I know I'll want later - I have no idea why that's my reaction to being triggered, but it is. It feels awful. Just a swirl of anger, frustration, self-loathing, etc.

And while I've been typing this up, my kids came into my room with an apology they wrote and a collection of their favorite blankets/stuffed animals to apologize and let me spend some time with things that are really important to them. Very sweet, but now I feel like a total jerk and like I'm overreacting.

I think I'll calm down shortly, but I hate that their interactions can trigger me like this. Does that happen to any other of you parents out there?

[UpDownAround]

My kids (1 young adult, 3 teens, all with some issue requiring meds and/or therapy) affect me, but I really think we need two different words for mood - the big mood that is depressed, manic or somewhere in between and the the little mood that is mad, sad, glad or just not bad (I love Seussisms ). Anyway, the kids change my little mood easily. Getting me into the dark place - really depressed - is usually a random thing but some really tough bad news can get me there. I think I have chemically triggered hypomania with large doses of adderall, which I was abusing so I don't have that anymore. But emotions don't get me hypomanic.

I am on a definite upswing right now and they could irritate me and I would snap at them but probably grin while I was doing it (keeps them on their toes ). I get over it much quicker when I am hypomanic.

[lilypup]

Oh, yep! I have three adult kids at home. (23,26,29). They're home for various reasons...mostly because we are very cheap rent and we all get along. But my youngest is a handful. He is still in college and struggles with the work so he doesn't have a job. He acts so entitled. He is also a vegetarian so he wants special food. The good news is he has depression but is willing to take meds, and see a pdoc and tdoc.

My moods are directly affected by this kid. I am working on separating out more from him.

[bioChE]

My kids can drive me nuts, but I wouldn't say they can trigger a mood episode.

[scatterbrained04]

Yes, definitely. My son doesn't trigger major mood episodes, but he does trigger more situational depression, anger, etc. I can really relate to your post. I could have written the part about clutter. I frequently have to go to my room and put myself in a time out to calm down. Then I feel like such a jerk at times. Especially when my son is constantly coming to my room to apologize. I wish I wasn't the way that I am.

[Unrigged64072835]

Oh, yeah. I had the teenager from Hell for quite a few years. She's now mellowed out, though. I can deal with her now that I'm stable.

[Sunflower123]

Yes, definitely. My daughter (18) sometimes triggers situational depression and anxiety.

[Victoria'smom]

I wouldn't say he triggers me but he can exasperate my symptoms.

[*Laurie*]

My kids have almost never triggered me. If anything, they have kept me on the track to pursue medical/supportive help when I've needed it, because I want to be as functional as possible for my children.