Topic Tuesday// End Of Year, YOUR Way // Tuesday 19th December 2023 5:30-7PM AEDT

@BigSkyCat Big hugs 🫂

@Snowie I'm glad it's helping. I have high hopes for it.

With mix of Christmas/ New Year approaching, which contains dates which are triggers for me, plus having recently walked away from toxic relationship with female who claimed to be my friend I know I’m starting to struggle.

ive been thinking of getting out photos of childhood Christmas times when things were happy. Years prior to the majority of traumatic events for me happening

Our next question; Sometimes what we usually or traditionally do might not work for us some years due to how we may be feeling. How might we be able to do the end of year period our own way? @BigSkyCat

Looking back at old pictures can be a nice thing to do @Former-Member

If you have dates that trigger you, it might be good to plan around those dates as much as you can. For example; if you need the day just for yourself then you can plan for that as much as possible. Or if you need to be surrounded by people for the support etc.

Sending you hugs

And please remember that the forums are always here for you too on those hard to navigate days!

@Healandlove I’m keen to try EMDR. Let me know if it works

Sometimes what we usually or traditionally do might not work for us some years due to how we may be feeling. How might we be able to do the end of year period our own way?

Think about what usually makes you feel calm and even good, especially any activities that are possible to be carried out during public holidays. What they are is up to you:
for one person it could be sitting or walking in a space with some nature around them and noticing it, for another it could be solo sport, for another it could be knitting or gaming, colouring in or watching a favourite music or youtube fun content, sipping mindfully your favourite non-alcoholic drink or a new one you’d like to try.

Suggestion: Write down or keep on your phone notepad a list/menu of options of such things for yourself – as many as possible. Plan and implement to make these things as accessible as possible to you during the end of year season especially the public holidays. Plan your day using this on key public holidays – it will be easier to motivate yourself if you plan and prepare. It may feel counterintuitive when you feel down but the act of doing them will help.

if it this year feels like a harder end of year before, notice why that is and be compassionate towards yourself as you would a friend.

Engaging with happy memories sounds lovely @Former-Member. There's also this video that may have other ideas 😊 @Snowie- might be of interest to you too

@TideisTurning , I used to make a bigger, very special meals for our bigger family celebrations but now I reduce the variety and still concentrate on just 2 special dishes only.