Stress Center Peer Support

bevhembree,
The holidays are always very stressful. Knowing this, try to plan for it. For me, I let go of so many things I thought I HAD to do. Made a list of things I want to do. Its okay to make changes, and do your own way. You will get tools by doing this program, try different things. Lowering the expectations will help too.

I have bought a kind of light bulb to help with the dark days. It does help some. Keep in mind winter is a time where everything goes dormant, my energy is lower as well. Don't let it scare you. It is a time for rest, in the areas where you really do have a winter. I'm not sure about Mississippi,what kind of winters you all have.

You have everyone here too, so you are not alone.

missgsr,
I love it!!!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose." -Dr. Seuss

You guys are really great. Thanks so much for all the replies. They all make great sense and offer wonderful testimonies and advice. I'm so thankful for my family here who truly understands and wants to help. Today is a new day and hopefully the beginning of pulling myself up!

Hi Everyone ,
I soooo enjoyed reading this thread!!! I am sure that we are meant to "hibernate" during the winter time, just as a bear does..lol

I have learned that I am not "trapped" in any way during the cold winter months!!! I may not be able to slide back my sunroof on my jeep and roll down my windows, but I can still get out and ride around and do things!!!

I used to become very depressed in the fall, because it was sooooo very close to winter, and I just did feel like I was being isolated from the entire universe..lololol

I have learned that we still can enjoy ourselves, even during the cold months, and it really is all about how we choose to look at the cold temperatures of winter!!!

As for me, I watch a lot more TV in the winter!!! I love the Hallmark channel, and usually they have some new movies on there to watch during the cold winter months!!!

I know that God made the 4 seasons for a reason, so it is all very, very good!!! Life really is what we "choose" to make of it, and I choose to make the very, very most of my life, during all 4 seasons of the year!!!

Reading is an excellent pastime, as well!!! And I just love drinking that hot chocolate and sitting around the fireplace and playing "Rook" with our friends!!!

Life is such a precious gift from God and I am sooooo very thankful to just be alive to see another winter!!!

Just imagine at the people in this world, who would love to have a warm home, clothing and shelter during these cold winter months and count your blessings..

This is a great time to get in that vehicle of yours and to "crank" up the heat and to be "thankful" that we each have heat to keep us warm!!!

This is also a great time for (us) ladies to do some cleaning, which we have "put" off doing, during the summer months!!! I enjoy cleaning out my closets in the winter time!!!

I really believe that winter is a time of rest for all of us!!! I think we can use this time to our "advantage"...for it really is the season to be jolly.. la la la la la la la la

Mrs T, you're sure seem to have a great time when the snow flies. But to some of us, snow does mean you are shut out from the world. Also, when you find fun in having your friends over to play Rook. That is another thing that many people don't have their friends over or feel ready to have friends over. There is anxiety to making sure the house is just right, etc. Then is you have family over that are not the ones you want but you are obligated to, then there are those worries.

But all in all I get your drift, and use love to get ready for Christmas, etc. It is a new challenge when I'm feeling these anxious feelings I hadn't before.

I enjoy sitting in my LR with the fireplace and drinking a hot chocolate watching the snow come down. Also, when the Christmas tree is up and I have my village put up on the hearth it is great fun. But the past few years it has been harder and my late son was our Santa. He would be the first to get down all the Christmas decor boxes and the Village boxes. Because he knew that once the tree was up and the village set up, he would start seeing Christmas presents.

That is what is harder for me at this time. Sometimes now we get the tree up, but not the village, only because it has taken me longer to do so due to some Carpal Tunnel Surgeries at the time.

So I appreciate your cheeriness and do hope to take on the next months with hope and faith in learning more about coping with these anxious feelings.

My deepest "condolences" to each of you!!! Because, to be "totally" honest with each of you, I can barely imagine losing a child!!!

I pray God comforts each of you during the Holiday seasons with HIS great peace and joy!!! In HIS Love, Cloie

Thanks Chloie. Today was sunny and I walked for about 25 minutes w/o watching my Granddaughter take off on her bike like I had been when the days were warmer and longer. It was much nicer to walk around my rural neighborhood concerned only about myself and at a time when most people weren't home or inside. The changes of the leaves on the trees were wonderful and the air smelled so fresh.

I didn't wear my sunglasses this time so that I could benefit having more sunlight reach my eyes and then into the brain for those neurotransmitters to start working. The walking felt great as well, I didn't want to stop, but I also didn't want to overdo and be real sore tomorrow. There are some more sunny and warm days ahead this week I want to take advantage of.