Coping with holidays

[jn801]

Hello,

I am finding the holidays more challenging this year. Feel as though I was doing well and regressed.

I have lots of anxiety/depressive (flat) feelings io the morning but have been able to get up and moving. Once I walk or hit the gym I feel better but it has been tough. Been off work for two weeks and lonliness has been an issue. Don't want to be needy with my family.or friends. I would never do anything to harm myself but I am back to withing I wasn't here.

Have tried to volunteer and keep active but still hard.

[Agora1]

Hi jn801 and Welcome..

Happy New Year! A new day, a new year, a new chapter. xx

[jn801 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. Happy New you to you too.

[Tigglypoo]

Hi I think holidays are the worse especially if alone .iam like you do lots walking love the outdoors. Iam going to try some volunteering. Hope you can push through this .I don't have a big family only one son with 2 grandchildren. It's good to talk to people too .xx

[jn801 in reply to Tigglypoo]

Hi Tigglypoo. I love the outdoors too. Last night was tough again. Will be back to work tomorrow so the structure and statying busy will be a big help. I live in a beautiful aread with lots of trails so the scenery and wildlife really help. Living alone is hard and my family does not want to socialize as much these days. Since my mom passes a few year ago and then the pandemic came a long, the whole social dynamic has changed. I am close with my twin brother and my youngest brother but they are both busy with kids and grandkids. Hard to make new friends these days too. Good to talk with people who are like-minded.

[Frankie24]

I am having trouble the same issue . I think the expectations of the Holiday leads to a big let down after. I got so caught up in shopping, gifting, cooking etc. that I was doing really good . Then just as quickly they are over and I find myself in a really low spot. My mood had been great before the Holidays and now I am just sad and teary. I feel like the New Year doesn’t bring much hope unless I am fortunate enough to get a new kidney. I stay active and involved but dialysis is really hard. Anyhow I can relate and I hope you are feeling better soon !!

[jn801 in reply to Frankie24]

Thanks Frankie24. Yeah, I completely ignored traditions this year,. Also having trouble with all that is going on in the world in general.

[Frankie24]

It certainly isn’t the world I grew up in ! Lack of traditional Christmas and the meaning of it. Family coming together is a joke nowadays. The world is in such disarray and everything is so out of control. The prices to live from rent, food, gas etc. It is hard to ignore all the hardship going on around us ! I work at a food pantry and even people who lived comfortable lives in the past are barely able to provide for their families. It is just so sad !

[jn801 in reply to Frankie24]

My mom and dad were big on tradition so we had huge holidays. I registered to volunteer at a local food pantry but they actually have more volunteers than they know what fo do with. so I just donate money. Did some other volunteer work too. We had big holidays when both parents were alive, but after Mom passed a few years ago, no one wants to do much as a family. My sisters have a lot of anger toward my mom and they block things out. I just remember all of the warmth and happiness. My mom had mental health issues and dad was alcoholic. He had a lot of anger too. He had served in WWII and 3 tours in Korea with the Marines (behind enemy lines a lot) so I think that took a toll. But they raised 9 of us and they did the best they could. Several of us have mental health issues. I try to encourage them and be an example, but lately I feel I am struggling again. Just trying to will myself through it. I have achieved a lot in spite of this.

[Frankie24 in reply to jn801]

It sounds like you are stronger than you give yourself credit for ! Keep doing the wonderful things you are. May you find some happiness soon. Now that the Holidays have past.

[jn801 in reply to Frankie24]

😀 Thanks.

[Tigglypoo in reply to jn801]

Thanks for replying . Always here to chat .just had lovely walk with a friend .I don't drive so iam restricted where I go .I live in Wales we have lovely places to visit .hopefully going back to work provides some routine .iam back next week I work in a school.take care x

[jn801 in reply to Tigglypoo]

Thanks. I work in IT at at a big university so it should be a busy day tomorrow. Looking forward to getting back to work. Take care. 😀

[Kelkel00]

I can totally relate. Even the lead up to the holidays was hard for me this year. Now I have barely enough motivation to bathe daily.

Hope it gets better for you! (And me, too)

[jn801 in reply to Kelkel00]

Thanks Kel. I am looking forward to getting back to work in the morning. Hope you feel better. too.

[Sleeplessme]

Welcome jn. This post hit me hard because I always struggle during Christmas. It's as though the world puts so much pressure on you. Christmas must be special. It's a time for people, friends, family... But then there's those of us who don't have people, or have someone we miss, or have such crippling anxiety the gatherings are unbearable. Not all of us can meet the expectations.

I myself love Christmas. I'm a stubborn fool and always hope that one day it will be perfect. In the mean time I'm lucky enough that I do at least get to spend most of the holiday with my daughter and I concentrate on her. Other than that, I do my best to remember that at the end of the day, it's just a day. And new year is just the date changing. That's all.

I still have nights, such as tonight, when the anxiety drops in for a visit. It far less frequent these days, but still manages to pick the night before going back to work to stop me sleeping...

[Agora1 in reply to Sleeplessme]

Hi my friend.. Another holiday, another year gone by.

One thing that is never changing are the people on this forum

always ready to lend an ear or a helping hand when in need.

Take care of yourself and know that the light is always on 24/7 in

our community. xx

[Furio95]

Have you seen someone to maybe assess with you taking medication?