Unhappy Holidays

Published by

Ellyrox

on

December 16, 2015

I know I joke a lot on here about things, but there’s been a lot of mental health posts around the web as of late, for anyone who may find this relevant, you’re not alone. Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Boxing Day is the time to be together with family, exchange gifts, love your fellow-man, etc. For many of us however it’s a stressful anxiety ridden gauntlet. Worrying about finding perfect gifts for loved ones, worrying about money, about time, and about one’s own march toward their inevitable grave. (Haha, oh my god, seriously how are people not just constantly freaking out about that?)

While it seems like most people are living their lives with carefree and gleeful delight (How?!), you get up go to your job every day, come home and plan for family gatherings feeling like an empty skinwalking husk of a person. Autopilot has taken over and while you may be meeting your responsibilities and possibly even socializing inside your brain is trying to kill you in one way or another.

You may feel hopeless at times, you might feel that all of the trimmings and materialism are pointless rituals; meaningless in the grand scheme of life. You might feel manic, and then crash hard. You won’t always feel that way. The moments where your mind and heart seem to conspire against you is not who you are all the time, and it’s not your reality. Please try keeping that in mind this holiday season, and remember there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.

Sidenote: Searching stock images for ‘Holiday Stress’ might be enough to cheer you up.

In fact, if you need to talk to someone, here are some resources:

In the US: Chat anonymously with an Active Listener: 7 Cups of Tea | Live Chats: crisischat.org (2pm-2am ET) or imalive.org | National Eating Disorders Association or 1–800–931–2237 | S.A.F.E. Alternatives for Stopping Self Abuse or 1–800-DONT-CUT (366–8288) | National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or 1–800–273-TALK (8255) or en Espanol | The Trevor Project (LGBT crisis intervention) or 1-866-488-7386 | Rape Abuse & Incest National Network or 800-656-HOPE (4673) | SELF INJURY RECOVERY | Vent online HERE or HERE | HAVE AN MOBILE APPLICATION FOR ANXIETY! | In the UK: The Samaritans or 08457 90 90 90

Learn More and Get Involved

To Write Love on Her Arms | Half of Us | Love is Louder |Self Injury Foundation

Distractions

EllyRox