We had a beautiful honeymoon period with our virtual residential team. Now its over -- and how.
Until a few days ago I found myself questioning whether we needed so much support. Then came the weekend. It was ROUGH. And today, I sit here remembering why exactly we ended up with this particular intervention.
I can usually handle one or the other twin melting down. But when both of them chime in, my ability to successfully manage the situation goes out the window.
Twin sister started melting down Thursday night and hasn't stopped since. Unlike Big Brother, her's are less overtly aggressive and more defiant and unceasing. They usually last hours -- often involving some trivial disagreement like not being able to watch a particular show or having to do a certain chore.
I don't know why it is, but these actually get under my skin more than her brother's rages. Maybe because they last so long. Or possibly because she insists on following me and being right in front of me the whole time. And when I can't separate from the situation, I break.
Not to be overlooked, Big Brother joined the action on Friday. Seems he had a bad day at school. By bedtime, we had one kitchen cabinet broken along with the wall leading to the family room.
His MO? Quick and dirty attacks. There's no warning and the reaction is extreme. Objects fly, obscenities hurled (this is pretty new) the only saving grace is that they are relatively short lived. At times like these its not that his fuse is short, I think he just doesn't have one at all.
Luckily we were in contact with our therapist all weekend and she even sent over extra help today to give both me and my husband a chance to get some things done. But I'm still exhausted. Its times like these that make me think we've made no progress whatsoever.
All the while, I was wracking my brain trying to think of what set them off -- what were the triggers? Then I looked at the calendar. And it became crystal.
Its almost the end of October. I should have known. Like clockwork, my two bipolar children usually cycle this time each year. They usually settle down after the holidays and we have our next big peak in late spring to early summer. I guess tomorrow I'll be making calls to their respective psychiatrists to see if med changes are in order.
I'm just wondering, do any of you out there with bipolar children face seasonal changes in mood? If so, how do you deal with it? We're thinking of getting a therapy light, but I am very open to any other suggestions people may have. If nothing else, I might find myself a cave somewhere and hibernating until spring thaw. Now there's a scary visual -- especially when the bears show up.
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