FESTIVE SEASON STRUGGLES

[Doolhof]

Season's Greetings everyone.

We have a lovely cheery Christmas and New Years thread started up in the Social Zone. Hope you can drop by there and share some joy and happiness.

This is the alternate thread, where you can share the not so pleasant memories of Christmas or the concerns you may have for Christmas 2016.

For me, my depressive brain decides to hassle me about Christmas in November! That is so unnecessary! I need to break this habit!

So on this thread you can share the negative and hopefully find a positive at the end.

You might like to share what the worst present was that you ever received, or how sad and miserable you are at Christmas.

By sharing, we may well be able to help and support each other through a time that can be very tough for some.

This is the place to vent, the thread on the Social Zone is also waiting for you to add your happy thoughts and memories of Christmas and New Years.

Thinking of you all, hugs from Mrs. Dools

[Sandy centre]

By the way i hope 2017 is going to be much better for everyone than 2016 xx

[Mc62]

Hopefully I'll have fuel money to be gone well b4 my birthday and not come back till after New Years and the anniversary of my mums death...... there's nothing in civilisation at this time of year for me

a shady tree and absolutely no one within miles is all I can hope for

[Shred1106]

Hi Mrs Dools - thanks for the hug

It is hard getting out right now - I only get out for absolute essential stuff - so what you suggest may just have to wait; I get far too anxious and don't manage to be near lots of people without being extra vigilant.

I need to address this cos we fly out on the 22nd for a fortnight...any thoughts?

[Doolhof]

Dear Sandy,

I'm so very sorry to read about the loss of your pregnancy. Some people don't realise just how much a pregnancy can mean, even if it lasts only a short few weeks. From the moment I learnt I was pregnant, I was so extremely excited and already had my heart filled with love for our child.

I'm really not in a mood for Christmas at all this year. If other people are than that is wonderful, I am happy for them.

I don't have plans to buy any gifts, to write out any cards or decorate the house. I think it is a combination of negatives from Christmas's past.

Last year was very horrid with family sending extremely negative messages at Christmas time. Very hurtful and nasty. The year before that I had a breakdown just before Christmas and was in hospital for a while.

I've tried to request an emergency appointment with my psychologist, I can't even get an appointment made for next year at present!

Thursday night I "ran away from home" or drove away at least. I didn't have any money so tried to sleep in the car. The temperature dropped to below 10 degrees and I started to get cold and my back was aching, so I returned home with my tail between my legs.

Yesterday another chook died. That is two in a month. My gardening companions are not doing too well!

Friends and family are wanting to catch up before we head off on the 19th of December and I don't want anything to do with Christmas this year.

Some days I am concerned I am going to go BANG.

As you mentioned I am reasonably tough. Some days I just don't feel like I am bouncing back so well! Ha. Ha.

I do feel a little better after having had a grump, so thanks for that!

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Mc62,

Sitting under a shady tree sounds like a calming thing to do.

If that was me, I would take a blanket and a pillow, a picnic and my favourite drink.

Think I would take a book as well to read or listen to some music if there were no birds chirping.

A tree near some running water would be very peaceful.

You might be wondering what the pillow is for! I enjoy having a snooze when I am out in the garden, down the beach or in a park. A pillow is a little bit of luxury.

When my back was really bad, my husband would drive us to the beach with my laying down on the back seat as I could not sit up. I would then stagger to the beach and lay on a blanket with a pillow watching the waves.

It was very peaceful and restorative.

Wishing you all the best and hope you find an excellent tree to sit under.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

HI Shred,

You are welcome to as many cyber hugs as you would like.

Do you have an opportunity to go and see your Dr before you le3ave on the 22nd. Has he/she made suggestions in the past on how to cope and deal with stuff when it becomes really difficult?

Do you have music you could focus on, songs to sing in your head so you are concentrating on that more than what is actually happening around you?

Or would it help to find the pleasurable things that are happening once you leave the house? Depending on where you are living, you might try to hear the birds singing or maybe try and spot 5 things that are green for instance.

I don't know if that would help. It might. I find distraction works for me sometimes.

Saturday I helped out at a Church fundraiser. I really didn't want to go, but forced myself. Once I was there I started to feel better. I pushed myself to chat with people. I talked with a guy who came to buy stuff. He cracked me up with the funniest jokes.

I don't remember any of them, but he really lightened my mood.

Like I mentioned, if possible have a chat to your Dr.

I really do hope you come up with something to help make it all easier for you.

Cheers and hugs from Mrs. Dools

[Destiny_Driver]

Hi Everyone,

I spoke with my psychologist last week and I feel a bit better about the silly season. The impending sense of doom is fading, which can only be a good thing, I think.

I've managed to score a bit of casual work in the lead up to Christmas which will certainly help the finances.

It's sad that so many of us find this time of year so depressing. I don't know what the answer is to it but I sure hope someone finds it!

Cyber hugs to all who need them right now.

[Sandy centre]

Dear Mrs Dools

Thank you for your kind words - lots of love and cyber hugs to you

Sylvia x

[Shred1106]

Dear Mrs Dools

Thanks for your kind words..I am seeing my GP and psychologist this week again and will try to get some tips on how to handle things. It's so hard though and my family members who are close by are just so dependent on me with unrealistic expectations, that, after they pop in (almost every day) I am left feeling angry and even more despondent. They left not long ago - how I wish they could see just a little of how hard it is for me.

[Doolhof]

Hi Sylvia,

I appreciate the kind words, hugs and love right now. Going through a bit of a low time myself. Not much fun is it!.

Last night I tried to organise a time to catch up with a girlfriend before Christmas and before we go away. She too is depressed right now so we didn't get very far. Ha. Ha. At least we managed to have a laugh together on the phone so that was good.

Today I am going to do some gardening before it becomes too hot then will try and think of things to do inside in the afternoon.

My depression is a bit yuck right now so finding motivation is not always easy!

I'm seeing my Dr. tomorrow for another mental health care plan so hopefully I can connect with the psychologist again.

Ah this depression, it really does suck at times doesn't it!

Hope you are doing okay Sylvia,

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools