TIPS FOR COPING WITH ANY HOLIDAY

• 
  Stay close to family and friends who understand your illness.
• Take your medications as prescribed.
• Be sure to get the sleep you need.
• Celebrate the holidays in ways that are comfortable for you.
• Holidays do not stop feelings of sadness and loneliness; give yourself permission to work through these feelings.
• Don’t compare this holiday with previous ones.
• Enjoy all the little things you have now.
• Talk about the stress you feel with family and friends.
• Keep expectations manageable.
• Plan your work and work your plan.
• If it is a gift-giving holiday, set a budget and stick with it. Many items that you can give do not cost money – a phone call to a friend may mean more.
• 
  Do something nice for someone else. Do something nice for yourself.
• Stay out of department stores.
• Play your favorite music.
• Celebrate in a way that is comfortable for you.
• Surround yourself with close friends who understand your feelings about the holiday.
• Reflect on positive memories from the past year and try to build on them.
• Don’t allow yourself to dwell on the negative. If negative thoughts come, acknowledge them and let them go. Return to a positive thought or memory. Don’t beat yourself up for having a negative thought.

Remember that the holidays do not magically banish all reasons for feeling sad and lonely; sometimes holidays can seem to magnify those feelings. It can be a little easier to get through the holidays when you look for things to appreciate and focus your thoughts on those positive things.

• 
  Don’t dwell on past losses.
• 
  Do work through unresolved grief.
• 
  Do remember that they will be a difference between the ideal holiday and the reality of one’s life. Try not to
• dwell on any disappointment you may experience.
• 
  Don’t accept the role of victim – get out of the house if you can and enjoy the sunshine (when you have it)
• and fresh air.
• 
  Remember, celebrations are what you make them – and make them comfortable for you. Create new
• (comfortable) memories.