Hi, how are you? I hope you’re doing well.<\/p>\n
Well, we’re counting down to Christmas, and all the holiday events are starting, from store sales to shopping, to gatherings and parties, etc. It sure is an exciting time, isn’t it?<\/p>\n
But there are some people with bipolar disorder for whom the holidays are not a happy time. If your loved one is one of these people, you will have known because of what happened last year. People with bipolar disorder usually repeat their patterns.<\/p>\n
I know for my mom, these months are usually the hardest for her in the whole year.<\/p>\n
If you had problems with your loved one going into a bipolar depression last year at this time, too, you will want to watch their behavior and moods very closely. The same thing is likely to happen this year as well.<\/p>\n
So what can you do about it?<\/p>\n
Well, if you are enthusiastic, excited, and in a general good mood for the holidays, some of this might rub off on your loved one.<\/p>\n
Have you ever noticed that when you’re around an optimistic and positive person that it’s hard to be pessimistic and negative in return? It’s the same concept.<\/p>\n
One way to help them not get depressed is to involve them in the holiday preparations. Have them help you make a Christmas shopping list, for example. It will at least take the emphasis<\/p>\n
off themselves and their problems and have them thinking about other people and what they would like for a Christmas gift.<\/p>\n
You could also enlist their help in getting the Christmas cards done. Activity is good for someone with bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
Get them involved! Do some holiday baking. Decorate the house. Put up a tree with all the extra stuff on it \u2013 ornaments, lights, garland, tinsel, etc. \u2013 with a great big star or angel on the top of it!<\/p>\n
Get excited! Then maybe they will catch your enthusiasm. But be careful, you don’t want them to get TOO excited, or they may go into the exact opposite direction and go manic on you! Do everything with moderation and you shouldn’t have a problem.<\/p>\n
Having your loved one help you to plan a holiday family gathering might help as well. But I would issue a warning here \u2013 If your loved one is already depressed, they may not want to have any company over the house.<\/p>\n
In this case, let them help you choose just one or two gatherings to go to, with the agreement that if they can’t handle it, that you will leave early.<\/p>\n
As always, you need to be vigilant and watch your loved one for any signs\/symptoms of a bipolar episode.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, by doing these things, they won’t fall into a bipolar depression. But if they do, make sure that they seek help. Sometimes just calling their doctor and getting their medication increased on a temporary basis is all that is needed.<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi, how are you? I hope you’re doing well.<\/p>\n
Well, we’re counting down to Christmas, and all the holiday events are starting, from store sales to shopping, to gatherings and parties, etc. It sure is an exciting time, isn’t it?<\/p>\n
But there are some people with bipolar disorder for whom the holidays are not a happy time. If your loved one is one of these people, you will have known because of what happened last year.<\/p>\n