Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, many people are grateful around Thanksgiving. In fact, many people go around the table at Thanksgiving dinner telling what they are thankful for. One person might be thankful for their friends and family. One person might be thankful for their health. One person might be thankful that they’re getting good grades in school. One person might be grateful that their car is running good this year. One person might be thankful for a happy marriage. One person might be thankful that they have a roof over their heads. And on and on\u2026<\/p>\n
While someone with bipolar disorder might simply be thankful that they’re stable at the time.<\/p>\n
Especially when stability does not come easily. Some people really have to work at it to become<\/p>\n
stable with their bipolar disorder. And some supporters have to work really hard at being good supporters. For some it’s easy, but for others it’s harder. Especially when the person who is so thankful at Thanksgiving stops being so thankful after the holiday is over\u2026And goes back to being their old self. And not their good self, either!<\/p>\n
You may have really enjoyed your loved one’s “holiday self,” being on their best behavior\u2026<\/p>\n
Being nice to you and everyone else\u2026 No starting any fights\u2026 No bipolar behavior\u2026 No mood swings\u2026 No depression\u2026 No isolation\u2026 No idleness\u2026 Or any of the other bipolar behaviors<\/p>\n
that they sometimes exhibit. What a wonderful break at Thanksgiving!<\/p>\n
But what a letdown after Thanksgiving when they start up all that behavior all over again. Like a balloon that gets a hole popped into it. And all that air comes rushing out. That’s like your loved one, who has been trying to be so good through the Thanksgiving holiday, but now the stress all comes rushing out and they start all their bipolar behavior again.<\/p>\n
And who gets the brunt of it? You do. You are their supporter, and the person closest to them.<\/p>\n
So you get the worst of it. Most of their worst behavior is directed toward you. Then the stress falls on you. First of all, you’re disappointed, because they were acting so good for the holiday\u2026 \u2026 and now this.<\/p>\n
Then the stress descends on you. You’re walking around on eggshells again\u2026 Trying not to do or say anything wrong to set off your loved one and their bipolar behavior and rages. But you’re trying to deal with your own feelings at the same time. And right now, those feelings are pretty negative ones.<\/p>\n
You probably resent your loved one for this change in them. You might even be angry at them for how they’re treating you. You could even feel that your situation is hopeless or that your loved one is hopeless, that they’ll never change. You probably feel disappointed that things aren’t staying as good as they were at Thanksgiving. You might even feel betrayed by your loved one, feeling as if they have let you down. You might be depressed now, feeling sad that your<\/p>\n
loved one is acting like their old negative self, acting out on old behaviors.<\/p>\n
But it is normal to feel these feelings. Many supporters feel these types of feelings after the Thanksgiving holiday when things go back to “normal.”<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi,<\/p>\n
You know, many people are grateful around Thanksgiving. In fact, many people go around the table at Thanksgiving dinner telling what they are thankful for. One person might be thankful for their friends and family. One person might be thankful for their health. One person might be thankful that they’re getting good grades in school. One person might be grateful that their car is running good this year. One person might be thankful for a happy marriage.<\/p>\n