Getting through the silly season
The Christmas and New Years season isn't just silly because of how people seem to behave when Christmas shopping and over-indulging on turkey; it's also silly because it seems everything seems to shut down, often also including access to our counsellors, doctors and therapists.
What are your tips for handling the times when you aren't able to see/contact your doctor? What advice would you give others who are stuck having to wait until mid-to-late January to talk to someone?
Comments
Having recently become alone and suffering from it, I discovered that the visits to a nearby Buddhist place over this festive season gave me a great support and relief. The Buddhist monks and nuns are attuned to people's energy levels and can easily tell when someone feels low. In my case, the nun addressed me personally during the guided meditation and invited to talk to her afterwards if I felt inclined to do so. I did, and she listened patiently and without judgement, and offered kind words. I felt a great influx of energy and optimism afterwards. The Buddhist places ( I call them so, because not all of them are temples; some are classified as residencies) are open throughout the year, so you can check on the Net where your nearest one is.
Finding positives
Having a positive coping strategy implemented
Exercise
Reading
Music
Breath techniques
Relaxation techniques
Creativity
Sometimes its not just therapists and doctors who become unavailable for support over the holidays. It can also be family and friends going away over the Christmas break. For me I guess im in that space where im quite stable at the moment so im really just looking after myself by eating well, going out for walks, making sure I take my medication, staying connected with friends and working on the house. I definitely have a lot of things to keep me distracted! I'm still trying to work out things that may trigger me into depression but I have a safety plan with a list of people to talk to if I get too run down including friends/family, phone counseling and if I felt I really hit rock bottom, the hospital.
