what causes bipolar disease
Increasingly we are coming to understand the great role of stress in bipolar disorder. In view of the most stressed people can get around the holidays, it is not surprising that people with bipolar disorder can be found at this time of year very difficult.
The emotional pressure, the temptation to spend too much, drink too much exposure to toxic family members, other people's expectations of us (or our distorted perception of them) – the list of triggers and stressors simply go on and on. This year I have not taken a vacation scheduled in early December because I realized that my Christmas shopping was beginning to spiral out of control and needed a "pattern of failure" to stop the development of a hobby to me full blown.
I've always had a huge emotional investment at Christmas. I love it, but I am overwhelmed. As the wisdom of AA, "I had to admit I am helpless before Christmas and is unmanageable for me. "Here are a dozen strategies I have developed over the years to make sure they enjoy the vacation and well – my 12 Steps of Christmas:
1. Stick to your regular sleep / wake routine every day.
2. They adhere to their regimen medications.
3. Make plans with your doctor ahead of time about the changes you made in your medications if you start to become depressed or manic.
4. Heck – make plans about everything! Uncertainty is a huge stressor in the best have done it as predictable as possible. In particular, potentially decide things difficult, as the time spent in the laws, the financial budget, and what social functions you attend well in advance. Make sure you and your loved ones are in agreement and share their plans.
5. Keep your mood graphics and include a special section Holiday triggers, danger signs and prevention strategies in their treatment plan. This is what my husband and I identified that my mood was building toward mania and why we decided to take a few days rest in a quiet, focused on driving instead of purchases and expenses.
6. Not more than expected. It is tempting to try to visit all your friends and family, but if all you need to schedule in downtime and avoid burnout. Be selective.
7. Avoid "disease to please" with the promise that things will be difficult for you to deliver and cause more problems down the road. This can be anything from encouraging children to promising expensive gifts your sister in law does not get along with you will stay for Thanksgiving.
8. Keep a list of gifts and a budget and stick to it 100% Sanity check with your spouse or a trusted friend or counselor. There are many reasons why we spend Christmas – the obvious, such as manic grandiosity, and more subtle reasons, like trying to make what we put loved ones through our disease. Only remember that for people who love you, no gift you can give what matters to them and you'll be fine.
9. Practice sobriety. This may mean abstain from alcohol if you have substance abuse problems, or just eat a piece of cake if you're trying to manage weight gain side effect bipolar medication. Or it may mean spending quality time with your family instead of cooking frenzy, interior, shops – whatever – everyone is different, but at the bottom of our hearts is often know our own personal demons.
10. Do not isolate. Some of us are alienated from the family and the risk of being only during the holidays instead of over-committed. In this situation, accept invitations and stay engaged with the world around you. Again, talk to your therapist or supporters of other and make plans well in advance.
11. Enjoy! Make sure your vacation plans are manageable, but fun. Each year, I do 3 things without fail: 1. Attend an event namely Christmas (this year was the screening of "The Christmas Sweater"), 2. Buy a treatment Christmas (this year it was some Elizabeth Arden Mineral makeup), 3. Make peace with someone that I was wrong for (this year was a former colleague who took the brunt of some of my hobbies workplace).
12. Remember the reason for the season. Regardless of their personal faith focus especially on what is spiritually uplifting and sacred to you.
Sarah Freeman is an attorney with manic-depressive illness, author of the best selling e-Book, The Bipolar Diet, and webmaster of http://www.bipolar-lives.com – one of the Internet’s leading sites on bipolar disorder.
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