Facing a Blue Christmas?

by Diane Rockall
Christmas songs are starting to make their way into the stores, along with decorations and sales, and while many look forward to the holidays as a time of gathering with friends and families, there are those for whom the holidays are a dreaded time of year.  Crossroads Community Church wants to offer help for those suffering during the holidays.  On December 8, from 6-7pm, they will be offering a service called “Blue Christmas” for those grieving during the holidays. For more information, please visit their website at c3stockbridge.org
Here are some other tips from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for dealing with holiday stress and sadness:
  • Give yourself permission to not feel upbeat and celebratory. 
  • Draw lessons from past holiday experiences and plan around them. 
  • Try not to be too alone, find a way to socialize at least some of the time.
  • Practice self-care. 
  • Build in time to slow down.
  • Eat and drink in moderation. 
  • Spend wisely, if at all. 
  • Create your own traditions, especially if the pressure to follow a generations-old family custom feels like too much.
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by sadness or need someone to talk to, NAMI offers  resources.  Call the NAMI helpline: 800-950-6264 from 10am – 6pm, or, in a crisis, Text NAMI to 741741.  Or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, 1-800-273-8255.  Their website is https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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