be warned- i let my emotions get me last year- try not to let it be an excuse to eat bad unhealthy things- it was very hard to get out of it esp over the cold dreary winter months

{{HUGS}} feell like eating come tell us we are here for you

keep bacon jerky in your purse LOL

I do several things to help -- I use a sunlight mimicking "light box" -- I keep it on the counter in my bathroom, and turn it on in the morning so I have light while I dry and brush my hair and put on makeup. I hate leaving for work in the dark, and coming home from work in the dark. I also try to make sure I eat all of my meals on time, with the nutrition that works for me. I am much more likely to get off my food plan if I am hungry. I keep a low profile as far as Christmas is concerned -- I find the holiday craziness provokes anxiety -- fortunately, my daughter is an adult now, and we agreed as an extended family not to exchange presents which takes a lot of pressure off.

Megadoses of Vitamin D and scaling back my holiday plans and attempts (e.g. drawing names for extended family gift exchange, 4 Gifts rule for my kids, scaling back on Christmas card list, etc.) are helping.

I too tend to get a bit overwhelmed. It can wear you down.

I have taken St. John's wort in the past and it helped a bit.

I hate to admit this, but exercise helps my mood. I started a cardio weights program fairly recently and I can feel an improvement in my mood - darn it.

Getting a lot of sleep and getting things done quickly so I have less time to dwell on them also helped me. Hang in there.

@nvmomketo, I love how you hate that exercise helps. ;-)

I'm struggling too. I haven't been "home" (to Massachusetts) since Christmas 4 years ago, and Christmas has always been my favorite family holiday. That's also the last time I saw my brother, who is my only sibling. I miss my family like crazy. Add to that what some others said about it being dark when I get to work and dark when I get home. Plus I'm working 6 days a week and, frankly, I miss my own kids who live in my own home. The bills are piling up, and hubby and I have disagreements about whether to spend his "extra" income on bills or Christmas gifts (I prefer to get nothing but peace of mind for Christmas, but his philosophy is different). And on top of all of that, my grandmother had a heart attack last Thursday and is looking at having a bypass later this week, so I'm pretty sure she'll still be in the hospital on Christmas, and I can't go visit her because she's in NY and I'm in TX and I don't have any PTO saved up at my primary job and am hourly at my secondary job. I'm feeling all sorts of guilt about not staying in touch with her better over the past few years (it's been 6 years since I've seen her, if I recall correctly, and I have probably called her twice since then), and I'm just... barely... just barely holding it together. I have to keep reminding myself that staying healthy is important. I have been overdoing it on calories lately because food is my method of coping with emotional distress, but I make sure I'm still consuming acceptable low carb foods. Like the other night I sat in the bathtub crying and eating the last bit of peanut butter out of the jar because at that moment seeing the jar empty was the only thing that would alleviate my pain for a few minutes. I'm sorry, I don't really have anything helpful to add.

I am lurking again but want to send kind hugs to all. Late fall/ Christmas time is when 3 men have died in my family (FIL, father, and first husband in that order) It is a mixed emotion time for me. I am thinking of everyone here.

ki4eld wrote: »

cynlyn2010 wrote: »

You all have NO idea how much it helps to have this little group to share with. I hate that someone else is having as much (or more) difficulty as I am, but I'm thankful to have a safe space to vent.
I recently went through a divorce and putting up the Christmas tree and going through the Christmas ornaments that we purchased together, and dated each and every year was pretty awful. Add that to the normal holiday stress, plus holiday visitation arrangements with the kids and the ex, knowing they will be gone Christmas day and facing being alone that day is enough to send me over the edge.
I have mostly stuck to low carb because I feel physically awful when I don't, but calories?..exercise?....yeah....no....

I understand. 20 years ago after my divorce, that first Christmas I worked a 12hr shift and then went to a bar where I knew the owner, bought a bottle of Glenfiddich, and literally drank for the next 14 hours. The owner drove me home and put me into bed. I woke up around noon and cried for the rest of the day.

I won't pretend it'll be easy, but you can do this. You're stronger than you know, but it's also ok to cry and be upset. *hug*

. I do hope you are able to stay on plan during the holidays @ki4eld ....I've been there done that....is there anyway you can plan to be with family or friends while the children are at the ex's??? If not, maybe there is something you can plan to do on that day...volunteer at hospital or soup kitchen, anything, to keep you busy......

@pwrfl1 That was 20 years ago. Now, I'm married, kids are grown with families of their own (grandkids are fun!), and things are good. My son died in November 2007, so that always makes the holidays hard, but I'm on plan and doing well. Right now, I'd just like to support those who are still in the middle of that or any huge struggle. I made it out the other side.

If this Christmas day is like the last few years, we'll all go as a family and serve at our local soup kitchen. By tradition, we do gifts (material) on Christmas Eve and service projects (spiritual) on Christmas Day.

You guys are awesome.