here here, I'll drink some spiked egg nog to that!

Holidays are hard, the past few for me have been very much so... I think this one will be better. You will be well... as cheesy as it may sound think about all the good you have.

It may not be the holidays at all actually. Winter months are the worst for biolar patients and the busiest time of the year for our doctors...

My suggestion is talk to your Dr about this, you may need a medication adjustment this time of the year.

Tom

Was just like you for yrs. B'day Oct. 30 cried the whole day, wanted kids home for holidays and when they came wished they'd go home and leave me alone. First b'day haven't cried, this yr, Thanksgiving was good even enjoyed the kids here. Xmas well we'll see. Have been on lithium for almost three yrs but dose needed to be upped and does it make a difference. I find myself laughing at things like I used to, it isn't instant it takes time to figure out the dose but you will find it.

I'm right there with you. From about the end of Oct through Jan. it's like pleasssssse cant we just get over it. Over the years I have come to realize the reason for the dislike of this time of the year is cuz my mother left when I was 5 at this time and my bday is in jan. Sooooooo my depression is worse at this time of the year no matter how good things are going in my life. Its a time that I try my damnest to sabatage anything that is good in my life. At this moment it is my new relationship with the most awesome man that I have ever met. Thank God he is very ;patient and has some understanding of what I am going through.
I'm right here with you sfpunk waiting for some comments. Good topic by the way.

It sucked when I was a kid and it still sucks. I work like 23 hours a day now over thanksgiving and christmas, thank god.

I live for this time of year! I love the cooking and the decorations, and seeing all the packages under the Christmas tree.
However....I have friends and relatives that survive the holidays by the skin of their teeth.
It's ok to just be different.
It could be the weather. It could be the lack of sunshine. It could be the knowledge that the day after the hoopla is a let-down.
Whatever it is for you that makes the holidays a bummer, just ask for some love and patience.
Faking it for the kids? Maybe I'm wrong, but do it. They can only benefit from thinking Dad is excited...if not for himself, then for them.
Aslo, we're the grownups. It's like when you first fall in love. You keep loving, but you never can get back those butterflies and heart-thumps of the first weeks.
That's normal. The holidays lose the "magic" when you don't believe in Santa. When instead of getting gifts, you have to worry about $$.
Let you wife and kids have their fun. And just love them for it.

thank you for the great response to this topic....i don't feel quite as much like the freak in a jon watters movie. i know i will be asking again for your support in the coming weeks. thanks in advance.

I usually do. Past memories are bad. Really bad. Family is still feuding. You would think they would tire of it all. I am sure tired of it.

Then all the extra obligations. Family both sides either coming or going. Travel. Oooo, travel is a trigger for me. Then all those Christmas parties and that 'special' ever so special gift for each.

Coping strategies is what I just journaled.

PS: Hoping and planning for an awesome holiday season this year. I am doing some things different this year and I am hoping the changes make all the difference.

Cross your fingers and pray if you pray.

I guess that I was that way at one time I loved Halloween more than anyother holiday and I did not realy go out for all the other winter holidays. But, ever scence I have been with my bf I have not loved Christmas so much. Maybe your wife has not been able to show you what it is all about, not so much good will and all that but being with the ones that you love your wige kids and the people that you soend the most time with through out the year. Hope that with that in mind you have a different out look on it all now. As far as Thanksgiving I just think that is another day and if you have anything to be thankful for take two or three minutes to be happy about all that and then move on about your day. If you have family over or are going to a family members house watch the game and tell your wife ahead of time that you are going to do it so if she gets pissed you can at least say I warned you that I was going to watch the game. Still be involved but that is still you exscape. Just my thoughts.