If you are spending any part of the festive period alone this may be your own choice or it may not, you may have had a bereavement, a separation of some kind, falling out or estrangement, you or others may have work commitments, health and financial issues, social anxiety or introversion, caring responsibilities for others, sexual identity, refuge or migrant status and religious reasons, there are any number of reasons people might be alone at Christmas time.
Whatever the reasons, there may be feelings of loneliness, isolation, grieving a loss, sadness, confusion amongst other emotions, and these are very real feelings for you, and also normal. The BBC reported that last December the Samaritans received 244,000 calls from people experiencing depression and stress across Britain and Ireland.
I have just mentioned Samaritans the phone number there is 116 123 free from any phone, Samaritans support also by text, email, letter -Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS and face to face locally. You can find support day or night through their page
MIND have a list of helplines here including domestic violence Age uk and wales
CRUSE helplines 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk
LGBT 0345 3 30 30 30 lgbt.foundation
Mens Advice Line 0808 801 0327 mensadviceline.org.uk
Money Helper 0800 138 7777 (English)
0800 138 0555 (Welsh)
18001 0800 915 4622 (text relay)
moneyhelper.org.uk
The NHS now has a dedicated mental Health help if you dial 111 or https://111.nhs.uk/guided-entry/mental-health-help
Silverline offers support, friendship and information here 0800 4 70 80 90
thesilverline.org.uk
The Christmas period is the perfect way to show yourself some self-love, what about gifting yourself that book you've always wanted, cooking yourself your favourite meal or making a self-soothe or comfort box full of goodies for yourself find ideas here
You might want to take the opportunity to do your favourite walk, weather permitting of course.
The choice is yours a perfectly indulgent day doing what you like xx
