Do you give yourself a break at Christmas? Has the Christmas tree lost its sparkle?
To me it is really important to be curious, about yourself and others. What is happening that I do not see?
I mean do you allow yourself and those who may be suffering from depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD and other mental health illnesses the opportunity to just be themselves? This could mean that they are struggling with life during the holidays. That can be a real downer. Imagine? Feeling depressed at Christmas. People can encourage you, me, they, to see the goodness and celebration but it is not that easy. Understanding depression, feeling our worth and believing it is the foot between the head and the heart. The longest foot imaginable!
No one is immune. Women suffer from depression. Men suffer from depression and mental health.Denial is common. Speaking up, breaking the barriers and stigma for everyone with open conversations on depression. I like to encourage having a safety plan, seeking out professional help if needed.
How could you give support?
Avoid judgements, comments such as ‘just get over it’, ‘this again’, ‘eye rolls’ are not helpful.
Ask them what they need, be there to hold their hand, share a movie, invite them for coffee, enjoy a walk in the park or along a frozen pond, sit in the quietness or just hold their hand while they talk, laugh or cry.
How can you help those struggling with mental health, just be there.
There is no one answer to solving the the ‘downs’ of the holidays. I like to encourage dialogue and spark creative thought. Everyone will have to decide on their own path, which to me, is empowering. However, check out different ideas and think of what works for you and may help family and friends.
Just because someone is smiling does not mean they are not struggling with depression. It is a silent soul sucker.
I can remember feeling depressed at Christmas and absolutely no joy in my heart. None! For me this was not my normal. Celebrating Christmas was something I started getting ready in mid November. Setting up the tree, decorating it and looking at the sparkling lights was depressing. Not one spark of happiness. It was scary, I thought my heart had died. Reacting like a robot and scared to share these feelings kept me a prisoner in the misery. Breaking that pattern and deciding to share with my partner and family gave me a voice, allowed me to just be me. Self permission to be happy for five minutes or five hours was what I needed. That Christmas was one of the darkest hours in life and by allowing others to be part of the sadness by having those conversations, the pain was a little less. The tree began to sparkle.
The freedom to just be.
