Can cope with work but not the rest!!

[Helpmyhair2019]

Hello
I have cyclothymia and have done for years. It’s always been managed in the past but a few significant life events have pushed me over the edge recently.

I am lucky enough to work term time only. I work in a pressurised job but cope with it well. However as soon as the weekend comes or even worse a prolonged period off work such as school holidays, I fall apart and become suicidal feeling. Then back to work and I’m fine.

I can’t carry on like this as it’s not fair on my husband and children. Does anyone have any advice?

I don't know what cyclothymia is, but I am guessing you need to figure out what it is about work that helps you and then try and apply that to your home life. Is it that you enjoy adult company and therefore need to find more ways or being with adults more in your home life?

Actually - could it be that your stress hormones keep you going in work and then you suffer a "comedown" when you're not in work? Cortisol and adrenaline are useful for short-term stress, but if you are producing too much for long periods of time - your body will then be affected. Not sure I'm explaining this very well, but hopefully you might know what I mean!

Thanks chocolate - your second point is spot on. It’s the short term boosts of Adrenalin that keep me going through the stress of work that makes me crash at weekends and holidays. I’m trying to work out how to avoid that (other than get a new job!!)