BloomInWinter
MyPTSD Pro
Post your tips for handling the holidays here.
One of the best things I did for myself the Christmas after my Mom died was to NOT celebrate that year. Just bought myself some things I ended, did self-care, worked at the E.R. and carried no painful traditions from the past forward.
Then, I made all new traditions.
My family lost all the heirloom ornaments we children had been given over the years...or they were destroyed. I was accused of stealing them...a false accusation that has hurt deeply and which I've not been able to ever totally get over. But every year, I'd get myself a few nice ornaments on clearance, and now have plenty filled with happy memories from my adult years.
My kids get to pick an ornament for their own trees, someday, and I get them one or we make a new one.
We always try to help out a family who is struggling, as we can.
A decent resource with helpful tips:
The Back-Up Plan
One from the list I'm considering is "Doing stuff for yourself: Provide yourself with something you didn't get that you needed. Maybe this is a grown woman buying her inner child a Barbie doll, maybe it is a veteran presenting himself with a certificate of thanks for his service. Look inside. People who love you would like to do this for you, too. Let them know if they can help somehow."
One of the best things I did for myself the Christmas after my Mom died was to NOT celebrate that year. Just bought myself some things I ended, did self-care, worked at the E.R. and carried no painful traditions from the past forward.
Then, I made all new traditions.
My family lost all the heirloom ornaments we children had been given over the years...or they were destroyed. I was accused of stealing them...a false accusation that has hurt deeply and which I've not been able to ever totally get over. But every year, I'd get myself a few nice ornaments on clearance, and now have plenty filled with happy memories from my adult years.
My kids get to pick an ornament for their own trees, someday, and I get them one or we make a new one.
We always try to help out a family who is struggling, as we can.
A decent resource with helpful tips:
The Back-Up Plan
One from the list I'm considering is "Doing stuff for yourself: Provide yourself with something you didn't get that you needed. Maybe this is a grown woman buying her inner child a Barbie doll, maybe it is a veteran presenting himself with a certificate of thanks for his service. Look inside. People who love you would like to do this for you, too. Let them know if they can help somehow."