Nightmare before Christmas - Triggers

[BeeKeeper]

Anyone else out there have more triggers around Christmas than "normal"?  I thought i was doing fine, but it's funny how your mind and body can make you believe one thing while getting ready to fall apart.  Last night has been the worst.  I rarely sleep anymore anyway but last night put me back to places I thought I had left.  I have BP but when things overwhelm me...I usually start hearing voices and/or music.  Last night it was both...like a party goiong on in my house.  I can hear both but can't make out the words...just male and female voices.  It was so clear that I actually walked around the house seeing if I had left a radio on.  Closest house is half mile away so it wasn't the neighbors.  Then the paranoia set in...hearing footsteps but knowing the alarm was on and no one could be in the house but me.  Fearing someone was about to burst in through my bedroom door and sleeping with a weapon for protection.  I can hardly wait for tonight because the stress is only going to increase.

[GenK1981]

Xmas is the worst trigger for me. My dad left my mum 15 years ago at this time of year and since then I've learned to hate Xmas and its surroundings. I have only recently been diagnosed with Bipolar and have set a goal for next years Xmas to be different with the right medication and support.

This xmas was my worst episode ever. Almost lost my job, extreme paranoia and the voice inside my head was right next to me kicking me down every morning. Suicidal thoughts are at an extreme.

If I can create a positive from this I have identified a major trigger in Xmas that I hope one day to overcome. Not all people with BP can identify there major triggers.

I wish you all the best over the holidays and come the new year we can look forward to a fantastic 2013.

Keep in touch.

[schizofriendia]

I'm surprised I don't have triggers with my anxiety and such around Christmas especially since I'm about to go through a divorce and my wife and I's arguments would get extreme every time during this time of year but I ultimately decided not to let my failed marriage effect me anymore, it was doing nothing but ruining my day and probably the day of others who have to be around me.

[adel_ezz]

this is classical. if you don't have triggers around Christmas then you have no BP. Any new incident is a trigger even if they offer a vacation to the Bahamas