Weekly Prompt #25: How do the expectations and social pressure surrounding the holidays affect your mood and energy levels?
Welcome back, group! I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed: What matters most to you in your days that could help you feel less stuck in a loop? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts and questions for discussion. They were thought-provoking questions and thoughts. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you
This week's prompt: How do the expectations and social pressure surrounding the holidays affect your mood and energy levels?
Depression can be a bit rough during holidays due to expectations and social pressures. One may feel tired and drained navigating those expectations and pressure, and it is very natural to feel this way. Please know all thoughts and experiences are valid so no matter how small or big it seems, do share with us and we will discuss our thoughts on it together.
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@ASilentObserver mkay well that Mario moment gave me all the anxiety which I snuffed out almost immediately haha 😅
And I'm m answering this question about a thousand years later which gives you another idea how the holidays effect me.
To clarify, I feel so much, so fast that I stuff it down in reflexive self protection.
Then, I try making the holidays the best thing ever through my naturally high level of charisma and ability to plan great events...which is fine...but inevitably those stuffed feelings resurface and in ways that I'd rather they wouldn't.
I'm beginning to realize in profound and deep ways how holidays are more about stuffed turkey, not feelings.
Thanks for this post and all your work on here Obs. It's really helping so much.
@communicativePond1728 It sounds like you have a lot of mixed feelings around the holidays. On the one hand, you want to enjoy them and make them special for everyone else. But on the other hand, you can't ignore your own feelings of anxiety and stuffing things down. Can you tell me more about what goes on inside of you during the holidays?