Post separation xmas survival thread?

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

First Christmas separated, my ex is being very lovely (better than him being horrible I know) and every time I see him or talk to him to sort out dc presents etc I still go through doubts about having left. My brain is starting to function better and catches up fairly fast these days to remind me of the shit!

Therapy is helping with a lot.
I'm currently looking for motivational/pull yourself together/move on type things to read or listen to, to survive the holidays and not make any stupid decisions.

Anyway, does anybody want a space to vent or just fill time on some of the lonelier days? I'm feeling quite good at the moment but I'm often up and down.

[motheroreily]

Ooo can I join? It's my second year post separation but my ex is awful. But the upside of that is I don't regret leaving and know I did the right thing.My mum died on nye two years ago too. So that is something else that makes this time of year hard.

I'm finding this year much harder than last. My child will be away until 3 Jan and I'm worried about having all that time alone and my mind overthinking

[Cuddlequeen]

Can I join? Dh and I been having issues for months. He read some messages to my friends having a moan about his behaviours and now he's called quits on the whole thing. He's staying for Christmas as we don't want to spoil it for the kids. How am I going to get through all this???? Major handholding needed!!!

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Hi both, I'm so sorry, I stupidly posted just before my dc are due home for the day but I will post properly again later

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

motheroreily sorry about your mum. I still find time apart from DC difficult. Thankfully haven't done a long stretch. That must be tough. When does your child go?

Cuddlequeen what a nightmare for you? How do you feel about the relationship ending? Would you have wanted to work in it? I'm so sorry, sounds very sad and sudden. Have you told friends or family what's happening? I hope you have support.

Seems that difficult things are so much worse this time of the year.

[peppatax]

Second Christmas separated and thankfully now amicably enough to spend it together with DD. Many complications due to wider family opinions on this but he is being kind, I am being positive and hopefully she will have a great time. My therapist said as I'm still in a bad place not to let my head go to the 'what if/what happened' place

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

peppa we're spending it together and things are amicable just now, which makes me sad. But of course it's good too. I hope your xmas goes well.

[WynterBlossom]

Does therapy really help with relationship breakdowns??

I'm just starting & praying it will help.

[motheroreily]

Hi everyone

humbug my child will be with their dad. I'm not happy with the arrangement but my ex is someone you can't negotiate with. They'll be with him from today to lunchtime 25th then 27th to 3rd Jan. I feel like I'm getting the shit deal. But he's impossible to talk to and unreasonable. Because I left him he likes to make things difficult. He often tells me this is all my own doing, am I happy with myself etc. Grrrr hence why I'm thrilled we're no longer in a relationship

cuddlequeen that sounds really difficult and sad.

[peppatax]

It's so bittersweet motheroreily - not having to be with him but losing time with your child. No one truly understands unless they are in that position. I am alone 27-31 December so planning on visiting family and friends, treating myself to some nice food and making plans for us when she's back.

Therapy really helps, sometimes you just need an outside perspective. It helps to see yourself as a person to prioritise rather than let feelings about relationships dominate. After NY, my DP and I are starting couples counselling as have got issues beginning to creep in that affected my marriage and I want to deal with them before they break us. Part of that though has been my individual therapy to get to a place to be able to deal with DP'S feelings (or lack thereof!) in the couples counselling.

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Cuddlequeen sorry I had more "?" than intended in my post.

Family and friends see it that I chose to be apart from DC so don't understand how much I miss them.

I have only had therapy by myself and it's been a lifeline. I'm getting my life back on track but at the point of separation she was often the only conversation I had in a week (besides DC and ex).

[peppatax]

I know that feeling Bitless - sometimes when I had PND I would go into shops just to talk to the checkout staff for 5 minutes and that's crept back in since being alone again. I'm much better now at just picking up the phone and calling a family member or friend to catch up - if I can't get hold of anyone for a quick chat I do feel very alone.

[motheroreily]

I'm feeling tearful this morning.

I tried to get therapy through my gp. I was first referred for cbt when my mum had terminal cancer and the therapist said they didn't deal with bereavement. And then I was refereed again after we separated and they said we don't deal with relationship issues. It's frustrating they gave me a list of private counsellors but I really can't afford private sessions. (I've posted a few times about my finance problems)

Anyway, im going to have a huge cleaning session today.

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Aw motheroreily I'm going so sorry. This is going to be such a difficult holiday for you. Will you be seeing anyone?

The contact over Xmas sounds very unfair indeed. I assume there is nothing you can do about it?

I think therapy is very limited on the nhs. I pay privately but through a clinic that has charitable status and a sliding scale of fees should paying become difficult. No use to you now but something maybe worth looking in to.

What do you normally do when DC is away?

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Aw motheroreily I'm going so sorry.
That should just say I'm so sorry. Don't know where the going came from.

[savouryandsweet]

Can I join too please?

STBXH moved out a month ago. It's gone better than I expected it would, and has been amicable. We are spending a few hours together with the children on Christmas day.

I'm struggling with the practicalities of working full time, having the children full time, and trying to sort Christmas. My house is a state, half the presents aren't wrapped and I just feel so stressed and under so much pressure to do it all on my own. It's lonely.

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Hi savouryandsweet It is lonely isn't it.

Sounds like hard work juggling everything. Do you have the children today or do you have some time to get things done?

Everything is so much nicer with us than last Christmas. I wonder why it couldn't be like this when we were together. It wasn't though. I have to keep thinking about the bad things to remind myself of that. Which seems very negative.

motheroreily I hope you are ok. I feel bad for the long stretch you have by yourself. I will only have a couple of shorter periods.

But I'll share the wisdom of my counsellor which might help you. I often go to bed and don't emerge until before DC are due back. So I'm going to try getting up, tidying the living room to make it cosy, light candle whatever, take duvet down and get together some snacks and have a cosy den in the living room. Last weekend i put a post-it note up to turn on the tv! I forget to do anything when depressed.

Maybe you are not as crap as me but it's mainly about taking a few tiny actions to take care of yourself.

And also try to acknowledge that your situation is sad. So it's ok to cry. Christmas is a hard time. It's a shit time to be alone. Feeling this bad does not mean life will always be this bad. It's a horrible time but you will come out the other side. I hope I do not sound patronising. Im reminding myself as much as anything!

peppa I do the shop thing too.

[Brandnewstart]

Third Christmas post split. He had an affair and I found out just before Christmas 2014. Still find it hard. First one with new partner and my kids but feels like the magic went out the window. Used to love it, now it's just about getting through this time of year.

[motheroreily]

bitnerness I do the same I sleep to get away from my feelings. I'm terrible I go to bed when my child does and then I'm wide awake at 4 am. One of my New Years resolutions is to only be in bed for 8 hours a day. I've got a couple of
Things planned I'm working one day and meeting a friend on another. I need to do something between next fri and tues to break that time up.

Lots of love to all of you. I'm sad you are all suffering but it's good to know I'm not the only one feeling blah about Christmas and new year

[peppatax]

I will be here over Christmas doing my best to have some fun! If anyone wants to jump on and have a chat I am more than happy to - trying to keep busy to stop the sadness and intrusive thoughts creeping in.

[Shayelle]

Hi everyone. Hope you dont mind me jumping onto the thread.. i dont have any kids, but i have been single for a few months after a long relationship, and am estranged from family so will be alone tomorrow. I dont feel sad about it, I feel liberated and free and hopeful for a good 2017. I plan to spend the break seeing some friends, cooking nice food, will go swimming one day, go for a long walk one day, a trip tothe seaside one day, and a trip to ikea on one of the days!! If anyone has any other good ideas to do fun things then please share them here too Happy Christmas to you all 🎄

[WynterBlossom]

Shayelle, I wish I could take a leaf out of your book!

I stupidly searched the exes new gf on fb & found a picture of them together! My xmas is even bleaker than it was last night!

[peppatax]

Oh Wynter that's so sad. I know it's so hard but I'm deliberately avoiding certain things as I know I'll get that awful sinking feeling and sadness.

Have you got pictures of you of happier times to look through? This always helps me feel more positive about good things for me

[Boundaries]

Hello. 2nd post split for me. DC with Ex.
Was meant to be going to a friend's for actual Christmas Day but decided it felt too weird so will be on my own. I was pretty much at peace with that, was going have nice food and read books in the bath etc.

But then DC gave me the ultimate present...a vom bug So now I can't even eat delicious things and am all teary.

[Bitlessbahhumbug]

Hi all. Sorry so many are in the same boat. GoldenOrb I think I remember your threads earlier this year (maybe a house decision one?). I NC so much I confuse myself. How has contact been going?

Then run sounds like a good idea. I'm toying with the idea of exercise over the next 2 weeks as a distraction.

Boundaries how awful with the tummy bug. Insult to injury or something like that.

Wynter hope you're ok. I finally joined Facebook - never been on before - and saw a whole load of old photos of me with ex from years ago. I think avoiding photos altogether works for me. Haven't been on since.

Shayelle what great plans. Putting me to shame. I have mainly wrapped presents and cried this afternoon. It's a sad anniversary today of a family member who found Christmas difficult and I feel a little better for having stopped and acknowledged it. It's a good reminder to talk to people and remember that xmas will pass.

I am currently searching house for a present for dC to give ex as I forgot to get one and we agreed we would! Oops.

I might download some music and go for a long walk a couple of days. Sounds nice and I'm near the sea.