Oh no, you just might get tired of how much I mention the holidays on this blog! I can’t help it. This is such a tough time of year for so many people. It may be that you love the holidays- I know that many people do and that’s great. For others, this time of cheer expectations can exacerbate depression and other past worries as well as create stress around money and family dynamics.
So, in order not to be a downer, I’m going to focus my holiday blogs on what can be done to make the end of 2009 a stable and happy time.
1. If you celebrate Christmas, where will you be on December 24th and 25th?
It’s important to figure this out now as it can catch up with you so quickly- and if you don’t have someplace to go the depression can be pretty intense.
Suggestions:
If you don’t have family or close friends where you live- talk with others and create what we here in Portland, Oregon call an urban Christmas. Well, at least my friends and I do! An urban Christmas simply means a light dinner at night with a movie or some kind of game. Yes, pretty basic. This is a great way to meet new people and turn aquaintenances into friends.
I have many Jewish friends. I have to admit they don’t seem to have the stress associated with the Christmas rush. If you’re Jewish, what are your plans for the holidays? Is there a temple you have wanted to visit? People you have wanted to meet? My friend Avi told me a great story. He said, “Julie, I’ve been at the same temple for years and there are so many people I don’t know. I’m just too shy to go up to a stranger and say hi. Then I thought- these guys aren’t strangers! So now I say hi to at least one new person each time I go and I smile at everyone who looks at me.”
Nice! The holidays stress me out- and everyone in my family knows that. I already asked my brother what we are doing for Christmas as I want to be with my nephew David. My brother is not a planner and I am- so I force the issue a bit. That’s ok. He knows why and he is now very respectful of my bipolar need for structure!
Julie
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Dear Julie,
My daughter takes over the Thanksgiving holidays for me. We went to her boss house and celebrated with them. It’s just better sitting back and enjoy. I gave her the title of the matriarch. She always takes care of me especially around the holdiays. They just overwhelm me.
Note: I’m going off subject here.
Thank you taking off my comments last month on one of your blogs. I was acting very depressed with psychotic thinking. Pdoc put me on Abilify in November. Meds are starting to work and I apologize for my ranting last month.
Thank you for this post. I need to remind myself of this. God bless you. I hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving !
This Thanksgiving did get a little confused but we did keep it small and low keyed. My daughter and son in law came up with a plan that will include both families at different times during the Holiday Season in the future. Not only is it a more structured plan for my daughter but I love knowing too. It is so helpful when she can take the lead and lets us know what she needs. Thanks my lovely daughter, you Rock!