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Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Hi there SANE Forums Community,

This fortnight we invite you to join in a discussion about strategies for coping during the holiday season. As we near the end of what has a been a particularly difficult year, many of us will will be looking forward to festive celebrations and rejoicing in farewelling 2021. There will also be many of us for whom the holiday season may be a particularly trying time, stirring up emotions such as loneliness and isolation, grief and sadness.

With many support services closed for the holidays, this makes accessing support tricky, which is why our next Topic Tuesday will be dedicated to a discussion on strategies for coping during the silly season. We'll be joined by a SANE counsellor who will be sharing their tips for coping with all the difficulties that may arise for members of the forums during this period.

We all bring our own experience with us to the holiday season, so we will look forward to hearing from the community about your experiences and strategies for coping with some of the obstacles during the Christmas and New Years period.

Join us in exploring strategies around:

  • Isolation
  • Navigating family tensions
  • Grief and bereavement
  • Service closures
  • Where to seek help

Please join the discussion here on Tuesday the 21st of December 2021 from 7:00pm-8:30pm AEDT to follow this conversation.

Want to know what time this event starts in your time zone? Check out the picture below:


Want to receive a reminder on the night? Hit the 'Support' button below and we will tag you 30 minutes before the event starts.

New to the forums or want to get involved in this discussion? Check out the How To Guide for Topic Tuesdays.


124 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Great idea @Judi9877 regarding the knitting! I look forward to seeing your knitting project!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Thank you. I looked after the eldest one today and also tomorrow but in myself I just know I’m not getting the same joy out of being with her even though I love her to bits

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

@Judi9877 that sounds like a wonderful plan. I love the idea of being able to plan your own Christmas, free from constraints and all yours to do as you see fit...like knitting! You might do well in the North Pole, with a bunch of wool on your lap

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

@pisces_1 It sounds like the impact of loneliness on our mental health can be quite profound, particularly during the Christmas period, it can also be particularly difficult for those experiencing loss and grief.

Question 3: What are tips would you recommend for coping with heavy emotions like grief during the Christmas period?

Question for our community: If you’re currently experiencing loss or grief, particularly with Christmas on the horizon, what are some of the challenges that have arisen for you, and what self-care strategies have you put in place to support yourself through this period?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

@cloudcore - just try to distract myself

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

How is the grief showing up for you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by your emotions? Are you forcing yourself to deal with your feeling when you are not ready to?

  1. Write a Christmas card to your loved one(s) that you are no longer able to physically be with.
  2. Do something to honour them which will help you feel connected to them: visit their favourite place, watch their favourite movie, cook their favourite meal, do their favourite activity, or listen to their favourite music.
  3. Honour old traditions & honour memories
  4. Share some of your memories of them with others, or reach out to Grief line on 1300 845 745, online forums – there are lots of recourses on their website.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

I’m having a zoom consultation with her on Friday to get a mental health plan for future psychologist appointments so will discuss meds again

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT


@Lani wrote:
Thank you. I looked after the eldest one today and also tomorrow but in myself I just know I’m not getting the same joy out of being with her even though I love her to bits

And that's okay...

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Hi @Gwynn , welcome to the discussion!

Those are really great questions for @Lani . As @pisces_1 mentioned, sharing some of your memories of them with others, can be really helpful when managing grief. I would also love to hear a story about your mum too @Lani

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Strategies for coping during the holiday season // Tuesday 21st December, 7:00- 8:30PM AEDT

Thanks for sharing @pisces_1 !

@Fluttershy1 , what are some things you like doing to distract yourself?

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