Holiday Awakening: Coping with Holidays and Mental Illness

Year Three of Recovery: Finding Presence in the Rollercoaster

Recovery is not a straight path—it’s a winding road filled with dips, climbs, and unexpected turns. As I drove home recently, I felt the familiar ache of time lost.

The holidays are approaching, and with them comes the reminder of how much preparation and joy happens in the weeks before. For those of us living with mental
illness, those moments can feel stolen, leaving us grieving what we missed.
That realization hit me hard. Sadness crept in, and I found myself tempted to sink into self-pity. But then another truth surfaced: I am more present this year than
I have been in many years. That presence is my reassurance, even as medical changes test my patience and strength.

Mental illness is real. It can distort time, drain energy, and make even the brightest seasons feel heavy. But it does not define our worth. Recovery is a journey of
rediscovery—learning to honor progress, however small, and to celebrate presence even when perfection feels out of reach.

I share this because I know I’m not alone. Many of us are riding the same rollercoaster, adjusting to dips and climbs, and searching for hope in the midst of >struggle.

If you are walking through your own season of recovery, please remember: you are not alone, and your story matters.
📞 If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available. Hope is real.

This year, I choose to honor the progress, the presence, and the resilience that keeps me moving forward. And I invite you to do the same—because even in the hardest
seasons, there is light worth holding onto. Emotional healing 🌿✨.


#MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #SuicidePrevention #HealingAndHope #Resilience #HolidayWellness #FaithAndHealing #YouAreNotAlone #988Lifeline #CommunitySupport