Bipolar Thanksgiving
Published: Tue, 11/23/10
Hi ,
How's it going?
I hope you are doing well.
Picture this:
The family (and extended family) are
all sitting around the large table with the
big Thanksgiving centerpiece in the
middle of it.
The luscious holiday dishes are passed
around, and there are smiles on all the
faces, much talk and laughter going on
at the same time as the food is served.
When the meal is served, everyone
looks to the head of the table, and the
patriarch of the family, Grandpa, starts
by saying, "Today I am grateful for..."
And everyone goes around the room saying
what they are grateful for. Then grace is
said, and everyone digs in to the great
Thanksgiving feast, as the laughter and
conversations pick up again.
What a lovely picture of Thanksgiving,
isn't it?
Don't you wish it could be your picture of
the holiday as well?
But chances are, it won't be.
Not when you're a supporter to a loved one
with bipolar disorder.
In my courses/systems, I talk about how
people with bipolar disorder have trouble
with increased stress at certain times:
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The holidays are one of those times.
The holidays, like Thanksgiving, can even
be a trigger to a bipolar episode for some
people with bipolar disorder.
For example, being at a family gathering
means being around more people, so for
someone who is triggered by crowds, this
would be a stressful situation for them.
It would be best if you either avoid the
family gathering or, if you do plan to
attend it, you need to have a plan of what
to do if your loved one does, indeed, become
too stressed out or their bipolar disorder does
become affected.
You might want to have some kind of signal
that they can give you if you are not right
next to them that tells you that they need to
leave.
Then you can make your excuses, and simply
leave the gathering if your loved one becomes
too overwhelmed.
Another plan might be that knowing ahead of
time that this might be a problem, contact
your loved one's psychiatrist and have them
prescribe an anti-anxiety medication that
your loved one can take so they can stay at
the gathering.
Be sure to give your loved one extra love and
support during this time, so they know you are
on their side.
The holidays can also be a trigger to depression
for someone with bipolar disorder.
In this case, a family gathering can help them
avoid the depression by not allowing them to
isolate.
Isolation can be a trigger to a bipolar episode.
Can you see how knowing your loved one's
triggers can help you know what to do (whether
to go to the gathering or not, in this case)?
If your loved one tends to get depressed around
the holidays, try to get them involved in more
activities.
Part of the depression is a loss of interest in
things that used to interest them.
So try to spark their interest.
Have them help you with holiday preparations.
Maybe have them help you with your Christmas
shopping list.
If they are up to it, do a little bit of early
Christmas shopping with them.
Even wrapping some Christmas presents might
help them get into the spirit.
If this is something that interests them, have them
help you with the holiday cooking.
Have them go to the grocery store with you.
Be careful not to overwhelm your loved one,
however.
Too much excitement can trigger a person with
bipolar disorder into a bipolar manic episode, and
you don't want that, either.
Try to stick to as normal a daily schedule as possible.
That will help them the most.
What are your thoughts?
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Well, I have to go!
Your Friend,
Dave
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