Not so Festive Season
Christmas can be a time of great joy and celebration for people; catching up with friends, spending time with family, evenings out with colleagues and general merriment all characterise this time of year a great many people.
What is less talked about is that it can also be a time of great emotional pain. In the general melee of celebration it can be very difficult if you are having feelings which don’t quite seem to fit the general mood. Many people, for example, feel the pain of bereavement acutely at this time of year. Another Christmas coming and going reminds us of those whom we loved and who are no longer around. This can be a deeply painful and sad experience.
Managing Isn’t Changing
It’s very common these days to hear people speak in terms of “managing” their mental health. We are invited to “cope” with difficult and painful feelings like loss, emptiness, depression by distracting ourselves from them. There are many forms that this distraction might take; meditation, yoga, long walks in the countryside, pilates, going for a run, swimming.
All are aimed at making us feel better and moving us away from emotional pain. So, I hear you ask, what’s wrong with that?
