Your not not alone this Christmas

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Christmas can be a happy and joyous time, but it can also be an incredibly sad, lonely and difficult time for  many  of  us,.it could  be your first Christmas, your third Christmas, your tenth Christmas without someone close to you.

Christmas can be a daunting time for many, especially to those of us who are prone to depression. It’s known as 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' but for many, myself included, it’s filled with anxiety and depression. 

It's not uncommon for mental illnesses to be exacerbated at this time of year.Christmas can intensify feelings of grief and sadness.During a difficult cost of living crisis, difficult times globally, and anger and dismay at politics, it might feel especially difficult to resist getting lost in our own thoughts and ending up feeling disempowered and unmotivated.

Many experiencing feelings of isolation, financial pressures or increased family conflict that make the season a very stressful time of year For people without a significant other, who don’t have family or who live far from family, the holidays can be especially tough. While longing for company, lonely people may isolate even more, leaving them feeling even worse. At  same time  this  Christmas the scale of injustice and inequality in world  is  clearly in plain sight, 

Lots of  us will not  be full of  Christmas cheer,  some of  us  near the edge of  black holes and will  not  be counting our  blessings. instead feeling  rather  anxious and trying to  find  ways  to cope..In  light  of  all  this. try and  look after your mental health over Christmas  and if  you  are feeling anxious or hopeless  try  not  to  forget that there  are lots of  helplines and chat services to support your mental health over the festive season if you need it..

If there’s one thing you should always keep in mind: it’s OK not to be OK. Mental health struggles impact each and every one of us in different ways. If you're feeling down at Christmas, don’t feel you need to put on a brave face for those around you, or join in with the festive cheer just for the sake of it.  Be honest about how you're feeling, and reach out to someone if you need to. That could be a friend, family member, or a professional counsellor. It’s much better to embrace how you feel rather than ignore it or pretend you’re OK.

I acknowledge too  that NHS mental health services are under increasing “unsustainable pressure” as demand far outstrips the capacity of overstretched services to provide adequate care, with  Health service leaders from the mental health sector  calling on the government to “do more” to alleviate “skyrocketing pressure” on mental health services.

The importance of looking after your wellbeing doesn't stop at Christmas though either. in  the  longer  term. It's crucial that we come together as people who want a livable future to support the values we hold dear and invest in the change we want to see in the world. that  prioritizes people, planet and peace! Lets continue  to  fill  the hearts of humankind with the desire to ensure justice for all..

Please share this for everyone who might be struggling this December. Try and  be  kind  to yourself. . Don't hesitate to reach out to anywhere that can provide a listening ear and a safe space for you to express your emotions..You are not alone. Please  don't  suffer in silence.