Hello Everyone.
Just wanted to mention something with the hopes that it may help some of us if you have ever experienced feelings of "Depression" around this time of year with the upcoming holidays.
I am guessing that it has hit most, if not all of us, during certain years around this time of year. For me it happens often around this time of year because I typically don't have immediate family close by to share time together. In other years I had family close by but still did not get to visit much for one reason or another.
And of course for some there maybe serious real personal crisis going on which makes things all the more tougher. Whether it be health issues, financial issues, or other major crisis. When they hit around this time of year then it seems to be 10 times worse than if it happened at other times of the year.
Things used to hit me pretty hard around this time of year but what I have done lately that helps me is to TRY to do what they always tell us. I try to remember the real reasons for the holidays. And it doesn't matter what personal beliefs people have because you can celebrate the "festive time of year" and we always have New Years Eve too so at a minimum we can celebrate the fact that lots of people are in a "festive mood" around this time of year.
And I enjoy celebrating the "commercialism" part too. LOL
I enjoy the shopping, the lights, maybe a dinner out or two for a change, and so on. I try to compartmentalize that and accept it for what its become rather than get mad at how so commercialized things have become.
I just keep it separate and try not to forget the deeper reasons for the holidays too.
I also have come to accept that I will most likely get feelings of depression too. The feelings now don't surprise me anymore so I have come to accept them too. I just make strong attempts to not let them affect me too much. When they happen, as they surely will, I try really hard to remind myself of the other things already mentioned and it has helped me.
If they get so bad where I am really struggling then I have learned to try to be sure to contact someone to get through them. Even if its just talking on the phone.
So just wanted to share with everyone. Of course none of this is earth shattering news and everyone has heard things like this before.
I just truly wish everyone here the very best this holiday season. And if things are especially rough then I wish for them to get better quickly for everyone.
Bless Everyone here on this wonderful thread.
Got up to chapter 4 last night. :read:
