[Misc] Christmas and mental health...the annual thread

[Happy Exile]

For the past two or three years I've kicked off a thread on this and each time it's seemed to be a useful place for people to share how they are feeling, positive or not so positive, whether looking forward to Christmas or looking forward to it all being over, and to get advice, support, and just generally chat without judgement about what can be a uniquely pressurised and stressful time of year. So as we're heading into December I thought I'd do it again.

So how are you? How are you feeling about Christmas?

I'll start: I'm dong OK. Standard Christmas family drama and having to make compromises around travelling to see people which ultimately makes no-one happy but letting it all wash over me this year (so far at least). It's been a year that's had a lot of turbulence - a suicide, serious family illness, major disruption at work for me and for Mrs Exile, educational challenges (not of her making) for mini-Exile and so on, but in the way that a turbulent year sometimes does, it feels a bit like it's given perspective as well as challenge, and I'm holding onto that.

 

[Chicken Run]

It irritates no end when you here minor cash prize winners on the radio happily announce that their winnings will give them the ‘best Christmas ever’

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Mentally I'm fine, but I can't wait for it all to be over because I just see it as a load of commercialised nonsense these days. Fair play to those (the vast majority) who love it, but that's not me. Trouble is, you can't really say that – and try to explain it – because you just get labled 'Bah humbug' and miserable, which I'm not!

For the Bobkins it's been another rough year, in many respects (family health issues and frustrations, death, financial stress, domestic upheaval), which is probably partly why I feel like I do about it this year. Who knows what 2024 will bring, but we're just rolling with the punches, as we've done for many years.

Good thread – I think it will be a valuable place for people to contribute to. It's good to talk – or, in this case, type away your feelings to a group of strangers!

 

[worthingweird]

It is what you want it to be...

 

[essbee1]

I have to admit that I have utterly dreaded christmasfor the past 15 years. Absolutely dreaded it because of the family
arguments we inevitably have (clash of personalities). It's an event that I haven't been able to get up and walk away
from. This year, my circumstances have changed 100%. I no longer fear it as much. Call me weak, but I have a long fuse
but when it goes, it goes. Interestingly, now that xmas isn't such an ordeal, I'm finding it more and more attractive to help
people who were in my position or worse at xmas rather than sitting on my arse. It's like xmas was before the sh*t happened.

 

[ozzygull]

I am almost looking forward to this year, after covid Christmas, then the following year my mum having to go into hospistal and diagnosed with alzheimer's, she then passed away in November last year, they have not been good. This year it will be me, my husband and our daughter, she has got a holiday job working in our local pub, working on Christmas day and we are booked in there for Christmas dinner. The pub should have a good atmosphere and we don't have to cook or wash up.

 

[Chicken Run]

I can’t stand Christmas but I’m fortunate enough to be feeling great all round and am very happy with life.

I jokingly blame my parents for my dislike for Christmas, for no other reason than they gave my brother and I amazing family Christmas’s that will never be bested

 

[PeterT]

I don’t like all of the commercialisation and this feeling that you’ve got to be having the best time ever or there’s something wrong with you!

But I find a lot of things I do like and even just having a week off, watching some films, some of the footie and TV cricket, seeing a few friends and family etc is nice, simple things that work for me.

My company seem to be having a Christmas do almost every day in the lead up, I shall be highly selective there, it doesn’t work for me to do all of them for sure.

 

[BBassic]

Been working my way through a low point mentally. I'm still deep in it but day-to-day getting by OK. Recently had a family member get some bad news health wise which has been tough.

I'm looking forward to Christmas though. For the first time in almost two years I'm feeling like I really want to get out and socialise so I've got things planned with family and friends.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I usually enjoy the day itself, but not one for all the commercialism tbh. Really not looking forward to any of it this year though.

My Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last month, and will be lucky to make her next birthday at the end of March, so its all very surreal & upsetting to think this will most likely be our last Xmas together. She is the absolute rock of the family, and I honestly dont know what I will do without her when shes gone.

The wife and kids head off to Florida next weekend until the 23rd, so at least I can have 2 weeks avoiding all the usual pre Xmas fuss by just getting home from work and stay in with the cats, watching TV....

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I'll open by saying that I hate Christmas - in previous years I've run away to foreign climes just to try and get away from it. My parents have passed, I don't speak to my brother, my children spend it with their Mum and my sister lives in the midlands so it's generally just myself and Mrs WS. This year I've got to work over Christmas so it will, as always, be a quiet one with some rum, wine and Mrs WS. It annoys me to hell when colleagues ask me why I'm not coming to the company Christmas Party - really, let's just dump Christmas and give everyone two extra days leave to use when THEY choose.

 

[Chicken Run]

The wife and kids head off to Florida next weekend until the 23rd, so at least I can have 2 weeks avoiding all the usual pre Xmas fuss by just getting home from work and stay in with the cats, watching TV....

Assuming the kids must be young then and not at school that sounds like a lovely 2 weeks

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I just opt out of Xmas, completely blank it. Can't wait for Boxing Day tho

 

[sydney]

i will be getting turned over and arguing with anyone who can be bothered .....dont take it personally ...xx 3 weeks off means i get to spend money on booze food and ammo....tsk..!!

 

[mrjon1976]

I can usually get past the loneliness of Christmas knowing that effectively it's 1 day before I can treat Boxing Day as a normal day by going to football. However, this year the scheduling has screwed this plan up for me.
Do not begrudge anyone having fun at this time of year, but for me it just brings into focus how empty my life actually is.
On the plus side no one to buy presents for means not being a slave to commercialism.

 

[sydney]

I can usually get past the loneliness of Christmas knowing that effectively it's 1 day before I can treat Boxing Day as a normal day by going to football. However, this year the scheduling has screwed this plan up for me.
Do not begrudge anyone having fun at this time of year, but for me it just brings into focus how empty my life actually is.
On the plus side no one to buy presents for means not being a slave to commercialism.

come on mate .....you wanna chat...?

 

[Swimboy64]

Mentally I'm fine, but I can't wait for it all to be over because I just see it as a load of commercialised nonsense these days. Fair play to those (the vast majority) who love it, but that's not me. Trouble is, you can't really say that – and try to explain it – because you just get labled 'Bah humbug' and miserable, which I'm not!

For the Bobkins it's been another rough year, in many respects (family health issues and frustrations, death, financial stress, domestic upheaval), which is probably partly why I feel like I do about it this year. Who knows what 2024 will bring, but we're just rolling with the punches, as we've done for many years.

Good thread – I think it will be a valuable place for people to contribute to. It's good to talk – or, in this case, type away your feelings to a group of strangers!

It is a great thread and thanks to the op for starting it
I’m always interested in reading about others experiences with mental health issues as I have experienced intermittent periods of anxiety/depression since the mid 90s.Like you said it’s a great comfort to be able to type away your feelings and let others know what’s going on.That in mind would anyone be interested in a monthly/bi monthly gathering for the purpose of speaking to others going through the same difficulties.We all have the Albion in common and I just thought it might be a nice idea to meet up to help others and ourselves let me know if anyone is interested.I don’t have any qualifications in this area just a sufferer

 

[jakarta]

With my younger brother passing away last month and the fact that neither myself or Mrs Jakarta are in the best of health at present, it will be a quiet and contemplative one, no tree, no cards are planned.

 

[The Clamp]

Christmas is an assault on some people’s mental health.

I’ve long been an advocate for having Christmas once every four years.

Every year is simply too much .

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I will be ignoring the whole black and bloody business.