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

@Lani, I think that @pisces_1 has made a really astute observation – people really only do let us see what they want us to see. So many of us "mask" their feelings in public, that doesn't diminish what you are going through 💙

Question 4: As families come together to celebrate Christmas, this is often a time that can elicit tension and conflict within family dynamics.

@pisces_1 , can you speak to some of the themes you’ve noticed as a counsellor around this topic, and provide a few tips for managing relationships when conflicts arise.

Tagging a few community members who've enagaging with these questions:
@Gwynn @BPDSurvivor @MDT @Lani @Judi9877 @Fluttershy1 @Anastasia

Tagging a few community members who've enagaging with these questions:
@Gwynn @BPDSurvivor @The-Hams @Lani @Judi9877 @Fluttershy1 @Anastasia

There are always times when relatives aren’t on the same wavelength when it comes to certain topics and this year, many clients are struggling to see eye-to-eye with relatives around the Covid vaccination.

1. Be aware of how you’re feeling each day. Be aware of your own and other people’s moods and levels of stress, before engaging with others. This awareness will help you to choose an appropriate time to talk about an issue.
2. Practice active listening – if others feel heard first, they are more likely to give you space to share your point of view and hear you.
3. Communicate clearly and stay on topic. Use ‘I’ statements to ensure that you’re taking ownership of your feelings and staying focused on your personal experiences, rather than someone else’s actions. By doing this, the other person will not feel that you are criticising them.
4. If it becomes increasingly difficult to remain calm, ask the other person if you can both take a break before continuing the discussion again calmly.
5. Before the event, contact your relative and see if you can both agree to not talk about the topic of conversation.

This community is really wonderful, I hope that you continue to reach out for support here at SANE @Lani .

I also want to acknowledge just how kind and supportive you have all been in this space @Gwynn, @MDT @BPDSurvivor , It's so lovely to see!