CHRISTMAS 2018/NEW YEARS Chillout Lounge

[kanga_brumby]

Hey Everybody! Christmas is the time of year to enjoy & share with family & friends. Some people will spend this time alone & isolated too!
This is a safe place where people can post and say hello, chat or send wishes to others and have a 'Virtual Christmas/New Years'!
Whether you have plans for Christmas/New Years or having a quiet one you can kick back and just enjoy company of others. Its been a long year. Even if you have never posted on Beyond Blue before you are very welcome to come in and sit around our 'Virtual Christmas Tree' and chat 🙂
You asked for this Paul here it is for all.
Santa (AKA Kanga Peter) Ho Ho! 🙂

[Doolhof]

Hi Ulysses,

Thanks for the hugs. One of my biggest hang ups about Christmas relates to my babies. For decades both my family and my husband's family told me they would not spend Christmas Day at our place because we didn't have children!

Sometimes we weren't even invited to join them. My heart was already broken over the loss of our babies, let alone feeling abandoned by family as well.

Thankfully I have been able to move on, to not allow bitterness and disrespect for family to consume me. We will see some of the family this year, and I will look forward to that.

My husband is very much a Christmas Grinch as well. He dislikes me "wasting" money on Christmas cards and gifts. Today I went to a second hand place to buy potential gifs. I'm going to do some baking, make up packages of biscuits and goodies and give them to family for Christmas along with some treasures I found today.

I've been extremely depressed recently and realise it is around other people's expectations verses how I want to celebrate Christmas. I'm not breaking the budget with my re-cycled gifts, I have asked the invited friends to bring along a plate of food to share and we will all have a wonderful night together.

I'm feeling a lot better about Christmas now!

Thanks for the hugs, I do miss my 5 dear precious children immensely, and hold them close to my heart always.

Cheers from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Rosethorn 10,

Welcome to the forum and the on line community. I'd like to recommend that you call the Beyondblue help line on 1300 22 4636, the support people will be able to help you locate services with in your area that may be able to help you.

If it is not too daunting for you, it may be beneficial to start up your own thread here as well to make your request for assistance known to more people on the forum.

There is a lot of information available on the site in the Get Support section, have a look through there as well to see what is available.

Like all illnesses, post traumatic stress can show itself differently in all people. Has your family member been to see a Dr at all? That would be a good first step.

Sometimes just being willing to listen to a person can be a huge help. Thinking of positive distractions may help as well, not that you are undermining what they are experiencing, you are just trying to lighten their load a little. Let the person know you care for them. Ask them if they have any idea what might help them.

Hope some of this helps! Cheers from Dools

[Ulysses]

Gosh I can’t even begin to think how mucked up (could have inserted naughty word there) your relatives are. My god! Thank god you yourself are not going to end up with a cold stone of a heart like they are. They are completely heartless. That’s a lot of pressure your husband puts on you to not spend. Unless of course you’re really doing it tough and he’s just worried about money. I know I can’t even bare the thought of buying gifts this year. And you’re doing better than me - you have the energy to make some and look for some lol. You’ve given me some ideas though on presents.

[Doolhof]

Yer, I decided I did not want to become as heartless as my relatives nor my husbands.

Regarding the money issue, we don't have a lot to splash around, but my husband is selective how he spends it. As long as he gets what he wants he is happy! My needs are way down on the list. That is okay, helps me be more creative.

Today I bought some lovely Christmas plates, I will make the biscuits, put them into cellophane bags and decorate them up to look fancy. A plant will look lovely in another Christmas decoration I bought.

Maybe in January I will start making things ready for next Christmas. Ha. Ha.

[kanga_brumby]

Welcome rosethorn welcome your in the social section But it is Christmas and people have been directed here You will find useful information from most of the people in here all anonymous we don't know you you dont know us. Some times we can help big time some times not much at all But there is always a chance to vent blow off some steam quieten down look at the situation again fresh eyes start again.Again Welcome

Kanga Resident Sage.

[CMF]

Hi all,

Welcome again to our new posters.

Kanga, love your new avatar.

Mrs D, I too am placing one of my hand made planters into my KK present along with some other little goodies.

This is the last weekend before Christmas. Don't know where that snuck up from!

cmf x

[PBelle]

Just want to ask, is it possible to forgive people we have been hurt by or have hurt at Christmas? It is supposed to be a time of connecting with family and friends. Is this best chance of starting over?

P.S Merry Christmas to all and happy new year. May the new year brings us our wishes.

[gloria10]

Hi all and Merry Christmas!

I like what people are saying that family is most important at Christmas and I agree, it's what I'm looking forward to most of all, plus the food 🙂

Gloria 10

[Doolhof]

Hi Scuba,

That is excellent news for you! Even if you do not manage to secure this job, you have certainly given it an excellent try after all you have been through. High Fives to you!

Will be waiting to read any further news. Hey, post away, this is great news. Just what you need leading up to Christmas, the realisation that you matter and there are options available to you! Good on you!

Cheers to you from Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi PBelle,

Yes, it is certainly possible to forgive people and ourselves and to move on. The problem may be that we all have memories that can not be erased completely!

I do try to have a sense of forgiveness, if I didn't I wouldn't be seeing family at all, not just at Christmas but all through the year.

Forgiveness is healing. Old wounds can resurface during times of depression and stress, so being aware of intentionally forgiving might be the answer.

Forgiveness, hope, love and peace, all those things combined can help us all have a very Happy Christmas with Family and friends.

Cheers from Dools