The last time I was really, truly experiencing a full-fledged manic episode was about this time last year.
Since my diagnosis I’ve been able to look back and understand what was going on. Back then I had no idea.
There are “yard sale” pages on Facebook. It’s kind of like Craigslist, but some are only for certain towns, other for certain items, and it’s just all much easier and more legit and less murdery than Craigslist. I adore yard sales and good deals and secondhand items, so of course I started doing all of my holiday shopping on these Facebook Yard Sale pages.
I got really into it. Really, really into it. I spent every waking moment scouring through the postings trying to be the first one to comment “INTERESTED!” so I could get my son everything he never even dreamed. I got a scooter for three dollar. Three dollars. He still rides it.
Things were going splendidly. I mean, Jack and my dad weren’t exactly happy that I was spending all my time online and all my money on shit my son didn’t really need, but I found such good deals they were also somewhat proud of my mad bargaining skills.
Then I became increasingly aware of families in need. You may not recall, but there were a lot of fires in South Jersey last winter. So many unfortunate families lost everything right before the holidays. There were posts begging people to give anything they could, even just a pair of socks. I gave what I could, when I could.
Then the posts got more specific. Eight-year-old girl, four-year-old boy, nine-month-old baby; girl likes this and that and boy likes that and this and baby needs whatever. So I started searching not only for me, but for them. I found a great deal on a shitload of The Littlest Pet Shop pets and homes and case for ten dollars. I bought it for one of the little girls. I went to Five Below and bought one of the boys a toy train for five dollars. I gave away all of Holden’s baby stuff I had held onto for no apparent reason.
In the midst of all this, a friend of mine reached out. She had been having a very hard time financially and was afraid she wouldn’t be able to provide a proper Christmas for her children. I went into full gear at this point. I made post after post about how I knew families in need; I started collecting donations; I would drive up to an hour away to pick up a bag of clothes or a box of toys. Now I was spending every waking minute online, driving, and sorting through the mountains of crap collecting in my basement.
I was obsessed. I would stay up until 4am searching for the perfect postings on the Facebook pages, afraid to miss anything good. I would then wake up at 9am and immediately rush out the door to meet someone. One time I had the car so packed I was literally sitting on top of a bag to make enough room for me.
Holden never saw me. Whenever I was home I was in the basement, sorting through all the donations I had received, separating clothes by size and toys by family. I was supposed to be attending college at the time, but my self-made / self-run charity quickly overtook any responsibility I had to anything else.
My best friend’s mom also experienced a fire, and I drove several towns away in the middle of the night during a snowstorm to pick up a couch for her. I then kept the couch in the bed of my truck, covered with tarps, for weeks until she was able to move it into her apartment.
I cared about everyone else far more than I cared about my own well-being.
After Christmas, once most of the families had everything they needed, I crashed. And I crashed hard. I didn’t get out of bed for two weeks. I didn’t check my computer or play with my son or do my homework or even make food. There was no point to my existence.
Once I went back online, I had several livid messages from people who I had told I might be able to help. When I first felt the crash coming on, I had told mostly everyone that I was dealing with personal stuff and would do the best I could, but would be dialing it back for a while. They didn’t care. One of them attacked me for trying to sell some of my own stuff, instead of giving everything I own to needy families. Another cyber-yelled at me for hours because I wasn’t able to help a family she knew. More and more people were coming out of their hiding places blaming me for all of their problems.
That’s when I decided to stop. By this point I could barely handle my own thoughts, let alone others unloading all of their crap onto me.
Now I still have a basement full of stuff and, a year later, haven’t managed to sort through any of it. When I said my crash was hard, I meant it. I suffered the longest depression I have ever known, and am just now beginning to pull out of it.
And now I know. I know that the holidays are a trigger that can send me into mania. I know I can go overboard and I know I’ll put others before myself and I know I’ll crash again, and I can’t afford to do that anymore.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters is coming to pick up some of the bags in my basement next Saturday. I’m slowly chipping away at the pile of mess, at my own pace. I’m still offering to people in need, so long as they do things on my terms. I want to help, but I sometimes have to put my own health first.
Sometimes I have to be the one in need.
Wow, Tempest…I’m SO glad that you are putting yourself first this holiday season, & that you recognized your trigger from that experience. It’s amazing how horrible people can be, especially when they lose all semblance of being human via the anonymous internet – & I’m so sorry you were the object of their wrath. :(
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Oh it became ridiculous. Everyone was attacking me for something, when all I was trying to do was help.
But I am proud of myself — this is the first trigger I’ve been able to recognize since my diagnosis.
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That is a HUGE accomplishment, Tempest! That whole thing was so bizarre – here you were, willing to help people (people who I doubt ever helped others and were just takers…..) and they turned on you.
You’re in a much better place now and I’m stoked for you! Now can we just jump past next week to Jan. 1st? ;) (Bah Humbug!)
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Haha I’m actually pretty excited this year — I’m taking things slow and doing everything at my own pace and enjoying the holidays instead of running around like a maniac.
But, if we must, I’d much rather skip to May or June.
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People are weird! You try to help and get shit for it…
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It was very, very strange. Glad it’s over now though — I won’t be putting myself in that position again.
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Last Christmas my hubby was manic as well and I’m trying not to let myself soil this year by being too reflective about it. I’m glad you’re able to find a way to still help others while focusing on your own health. I hope you and your family have a great holiday season together!
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This is the first Christmas since my diagnosis (though I suffered for years, I was only diagnosed a few months ago) and it’s really helping me look for and identify triggers, which I’ve never been able to do before.
Thank you! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season as well. Try to start fresh=]
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What assh*les for blaming you! Like you needed cyberbullying in the midst of a manic episode! I can identify with you in terms of the holidays triggering bipolar symptoms. Best of luck putting yourself and your son first this holiday season.
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I like to think it was partly just the stress getting to them, too. It was a mess then, but it’s over now and I’ve moved on=]
I’m just happy I’m finally able to identify triggers and take the steps necessary to avoid them=]
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Good job. It’s taken me far longer to do just that.
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This is the very first time I’ve done it, and I’m super excited about it! I can’t wait to tell my therapist. haha
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I never understood why holidays bring out the worst in people. Focus on yourself and your son, that’s all that matters. Ultimately we are all responsible for ourselves, so don’t worry about what others think.
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Stress, I guess. Everyone’s so worried about everyone else, much like my story, they don’t worry about themselves until it’s too late.
I’m good now=] Taking things slow and doing the holidays my way.
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I always have a rough ride with New Years. Seems so depressing. Can put me in the worst funk for a week. I think it’s because the holidays are over and it’s back to reality. Oh yes and signals “another year older” and still broke lol. Ah, well. Families can also be triggers. The getting together of a lot of old feelings and sins can be very powerful. Good luck this year. Maggie’s Mom
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Yeah, a lot of people seem to be triggered by the holidays. I know here it’s also the weather. I hope you have a better year this year!
Thank you=]
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