Many people may think it odd that I start talking about my holiday plans in August! Now it’s September and I’m moving into holiday planning mode full time. I’ve had way, way too many depressed and stressed holidays to go through them again. It’s odd, because I have family and friends in my life who are very dear to me- but often our plans don’t work out or I find myself in the dark weather of the Pacific Northwest. So many of us in this area deal with the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder as well! I think the poll to your right reflects the same concerns for many of us with bipolar disorder. (There is a new poll up as of today- the past polls will be displayed soon. 58% of the people who tool the holiday poll said the holidays were very stressful. ) So let’s do something about it!
My solution? I plan now as much as I can for the traditional holidays that are expected in the next few months. I know where I will be, who I will be with and hopefully it’s somewhere in the sun!
So, I invite you to look ahead to the November and December holidays and then project into the New Year’s Eve celebtrations as well. Where do you want to be and who do you want to be with! There is plenty of time to plan.
Julie
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I never liked the holidays, i am sure it has to do with my bipolar. i get in a weird mood. i want to be by myself eventhough i feel lonely, i know doesnt make sense. i wish for once i could enjoy the holidays. well not this year.
I looked for your personal email but couldnt find it. So i will let the world see this. i was going out with a guy last year, and because of my bipolar i was very argumentative, and he got a restraining order against me. That was in march. eventhough the restraining order was in full effect, we continued our relationship till december, when we broke up. i was unemployed for a year and my bipolar was not being managed and he couldnt deal, so he left. ever since then, eventhoug he had the RO against me, i felt like i could reach out to him. so every 2-3 months i would send him an email asking how he was doing and wanting to talk because he was my best friend at one point. everytime i reached out to him (i found out) he called 911 and had a report filled out that i breached the restraining order. I now found out i have 2 warrants out for my arrest. So i contacted a lawyer. I spoke to my lawyer, he said I must surrender. He will draw up documentation on Monday and have a detective come out and arrest me. He will then have me processed at the station and i’ll have to pay 10 percent of 1,000. Then he said he will help me defend my case. i am devastated, a man who was once my best friend is doing this to me, if I was in my right mind, i probably would have obeyed the restraining order.
Hi Julie!
I just wanted to let you know that I think that you ROCK! I really like your blog a lot. You help me to see that even though I have a mental illness, I can still lead a productive life. I love how determined you are to lead a productive life. You are an inspiration to me.
Peace,
Dawn
Hello Danielle,
thanks for writing. Your story is not uncommon. There is a lot you can do prevention wise so that it doesn’t happen again- but for now, you have to take caer of the legal case. I suggest that you contact your local National Alliance on Mental Illness orgnanization at http://www.nami.org and ask for the closest Mental Health Court. Hopefully there is one near you- if not, ask them for advice on where to go for help that’a based on mental illnesses. Make sure you’re very clear that you have bipolar disorder- though this is no way excuses your behavior in the eyes of the court, at least the will have a back ground. Then, promise me you will find a treatment plan- you know I have plans that can fit most people – and use one to deal with the anger- bipolar disorder anger, obsessiveness and compulsions can 100% be managed. You can have a bright future. Julie
We have an 18 year son that was diagnosed 2 years ago with bipolar. He has limited friends and attends a alternative public school where all the kids have “issues”.The story is very long and I am enjoying reading your newsletters because they are so exactly him.
I am looking for advice for the holidays…very specific. We have know for many years, since he was young , that he would be very stressed at the holidays. Last year he was hospitalized during christmas. I told my family, laughing but sort of seriously , that we were not going to celebrate the holidays anymore. If I could get off of work and afford it I would go to a sunny island somewhere but that is not going to happen.
Please offer some suggestions for how to decrease the stress associated with the holidays. We have already limited events to 3 family only functions.
You are a special person sent to help those of us struggling.
Thanks
Joyce
Thanks Julie