Is the upcoming holiday aggravating your condition?

I am having a bit of a relapse and I think the upcoming holiday is contributing to it.

Also, come to think of it, I started taking 30 mg of pseudophephedrine (a decongestant) on Friday due to coming down with a virus or sinus infection early last week. Don't know if that is causing problems as well.

Anyone else finding they are struggling with this?

The holidays are very triggering for many of us.

not yet ... but I suspect it will ...

I am starting to stress. I have to host the family Thanksgiving. We are expecting at least 15 people. I am not up to it. Too much fatigue and too much pain every day/night. Little sleep.

I don't understand it. Everyone else in my family is physically well. Some of them just do not get along with one another. In order to make sure the holiday is inclusive of all, we have to host it.

I used to enjoy hosting, yet I have been too ill in every way and would like for someone else to host for a change! That is just not going to happen!

I do have people bringing various side dishes.

I'd rather skip the big dinner and do something else.
Oh well! Trying to create family harmony instead of discord.

Happy Holidays to All!

WC

I hope you feel better. I actually have a history of getting recurrent sinus infections and found that pseudo also exacerbates some of my symptoms. My heart races and my anxiety goes up. It's even worse if I'm already manicky.

As far as the holidays go, yes, I'm starting to feel worse. I try not to compare myself to other people, but that pressure to be in a good mood and celebrate sometimes gets to me. It makes me want to withdraw. I feel even worse knowing that I should be focused on what is positive and things I'm thankful for, but it's hard for me to focus on those things when I'm depressed.

Absolutely.

Yesterday was an extremely hectic travel day that continued hectic driving to Miami Beach to see a concert. I was overwhelmed during the first half of the concert, but was able to enjoy the second half. Then I was severely tired during the drive back. Luckily today has been wonderfully peaceful and relaxing. Hopefully the rest of the week will be, too. Hubby and I no longer spend Thanksgiving with family. Instead, we head south to beaches. I'm not sure how Christmas will be, though. Normally it's stressful at the dinner.

So far...no. Most years yes. This year, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving at my sister’s house. I did just come through a serious depression so I may just be light hearted in general.

I do take care of my paranoid schizophrenic brother and he is deteriorating rapidly. He refuses to leave the house unless I go with him to his many appointments to protect him and the hallucinations are bad. I’m the only one he trusts. He really needs to be IP but so far no luck talking him in to it. That might throw a spanner in the works but we’ll see.

We have family coming to visit after Thanksgiving and I’m more stressed about that. I don’t feel up to hosting while I’m trying to take care of my family.

I wish for everyone a peaceful and pain free Thanksgiving.

I didn't know you were dealing with that with your brother.

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

I am definitely having a relapse. Having paranoia that everyone at PC must hate me for being a bad mother because my son is homeless. Or maybe there are some that really might feel that way because so many people here have been abused by their parents.

Brought my son the gift card (I had given him two different ones yesterday and he had refused one wanting a different one because he doesn't like Golden Corral--explained to him that they are the only one open on Thanksgiving and I told his Dad I was going with him to see his mom). At work today (my part time one) he called 4 times, when I called after work he said, "Are you OK, wanted to see you to give you a hug." He also wanted the gift card. Sometimes I don't know if he does crazy stuff to worry and manipulate me or if he is possibly schizophrenic, or bipolar. He doesn't want to let me take him to a therapist or psychiatrist....

I can assure you everyone at PC doesn’t hate you and I can assure you that you are a good mother. You love and are trying to support your son. There is only so much you can do if he won’t let you take him for treatment. Please take extra good care of yourself as this is a tough time for you.

No judgement. No hatred of you! Just no way!

I hope you and yours have a happy holiday!

WC

I admire the level of your compassion!
How kind of you to continue helping your brother. I can see why he trusts you. I trust you, too.

Thanks for being you!
We could use more people like you!


WC

Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kind words. That brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. I hope you know I think the same of you.

I am starting to fall apart in the seams. I am working both thanksgiving and Christmas and my birthday is janurary 1. All three holidays I will be alone again and it’s killing me with the amount of pain and loneliness. I am feeling 0 self worth and having a hard time finding my purpose.

On the contrary. I enjoy any celebration.
I used to celebrate my birthday every first Saturday of the month.
Until gold crashed. Thank you Reagan.

I've accepted I'm going to be alone for the holidays (again), and that the only gifts I'm going to be getting are ones I buy myself.

so no

it's upsetting but not affecting my condition

last year around this time I went on a bit of a shopping spre buying crap I didn't really need.

but I've not done this yet this year- I think because my money situation is so tight, not because I don't want to

give me cash and I probably will splash out- it helps me having a lot of self care shopping over christmas

Thanksgiving no its just my husband and I

Christmas we are driving to Florida to see the kids and granddaughter , Mad rush for 3 days.. I always dread going. I mean.... I love to see our kids but its the whole pack out stuff an then the presents.. I handle it all fine once I am there I dread the drive 12-13 hours with both our 50lb dogs ,, Thank god they travel so well, Sleep the whole way lol

I hope you can enjoy the holidays even if its in bits and pieces .

Holidays do not bother me much, but I think this time will be different. I am aprehensive in going to my exs Thanksgiving dinner. She did tell me that she no longer considers me as being part of her family. This is a bummer. I have been depressed over this, but holding together. However, my daughter will be there. I want to be there there with her. I am wondering if I will end up spending Thanksgiving by myself. Now if this was for xmas, that would effect me more. If I can go with her out for my birthday on New Years day, that will be something I can look forward to.

We don’t have thanksgiving here. But there is something about this time of year that causes my anxiety levels to go through the roof.

No, it's not aggravating my condition although my stress level will go up tomorrow when I have to drive mum an hour to my sister's house and back. Driving is always a stress but more so on holidays cause I always suspect the other drivers are drunk or high. Although about half the drive is though farm country where it could be a confused cow or deer that bounds into my lane. I hate driving.

Glad people carried on this thread since I didn't "internet" much during the Thanksgiving Holiday because I end up catching up on some training I was supposed to finish on line a week ago but overlooked (I am not a procrastinor but didn't read some fine print).

No aggravation because we were going to travel Thankgiving eve to see some relatives causing me to buy no holiday food ingrediant.. Then with my H catching what I had last week--the trip was cancelled last moment. So no Thanksgiving in the family zone and too late to thaw turkey, etc. So I just made soup the next day. No after T-meal tireds or excess calories.

Miguel'smom keeps saying her depression is just situational. Goodbye journey into the family zone and meal prep responsibilities, good bye to my condition flairing up. Perhaps my Bipolar is situational. If we were all on easy street maybe we would all be cured (or at least not have developped as serious of a condition.)

God, yes. Mania is a massive holiday trigger for me.

For the past couple years I've been having episodes starting late November/early December going through to January it's so annoying.

Thanks meds, though!

Having a bad day today and Christmas is definitely to blame. My husband wants to travel to see his mom and I want to see her too but I hate to think of my daughter alone at Christmas--she doesn't want to go so she suggested staying and cooking for her brother--I said that sounds great (I am also worried about leaving him at Christmas) then my husband said--no way! The thing is that the last time he was here there was trouble. I don't want to go into the details but it is not easy dealing with my son--but I still think it is a chance that we should take. H is adamant that he cannot come and is saying I am being unstable and if our son came to the house--he would have to fix the mess. The whole situation has all of us (H, my daughter and me) fighting. I am trying not to talk about my situation on here because I wonder if I should but...

I think a lot of my problem is that I want please others and am very indecisive about these kind of situations. I am going to be going back and forth on this (stay and be with my children or go with H) all week. I change my mind based on what other people tell me instead of knowing what I truly want. The rumination drives me crazy. Though I am leaning towards staying but H is not going to like this and I am not looking forward to telling him...

It sounds like you are in a tough situation.
I hope whichever option you choose, all works out just fine.


WC