editorial

Editorial


	Welcome to the Christmas edition of #Survivors Newsletter. I hope you will find the new format easier to read, the information and articles easier to access. I would like to apologise for the delay with this newsletter and thank you for your patience. It is hard to believe we are fast approaching our third year on the net. Incredible, and I owe much thanks to many people who have supported me throughout many problems. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, without you this would not have been possible. Christmas can be a difficult time for survivors. Not sharing and being with our family is particularly difficult when we have made the decision to stay away to show that we will not be victims any longer. Here are some of thing feelings and thoughts you may be experiencing: CHRISTMAS PAST There wasn't one" "Having to pretend that everything was okay because of the time of year" "Playing happy families" CHRISTMAS PRESENT "Being with people you do notwant to be with" "Not being able to be with someone you want to be with" "The idea of being in the christmasspirit and actually hating the whole business" "Feeling guilty for not seeing your family" "Feeling disloyal to yourself if do not see your family" "Wanting to spend christmas dayalone but feeling guilty about it" "Other people saying it is only for the children" "Having to pretend that you had a wonderful time, when really it was awful" CHRISTMAS FUTURE "To have the courage and honesty to say I don't want to......." "To not need therapy anymore" "For christmas to be no longer a stressful time"















	I thank God that I have a new family. All of you, in the channel,I thank God that we have all been united to share our experiences, help and guide each other. At my dinner table, I will thank God that we have each other, that we are making a difference to people's lives and I will pray that everyone of you will be safe. I believe in God, I am not particularly religious, but I know when I should be thankful and sharing my life with all of you gives me reason to be thankful. If you can, have a wonderful christmas, if you can't....get on the channel! There are many mixed feelings as Christmas approaches and some will be feeling alone. Buy yourself that video or that book and treat yourself. For those that feel compelled to conform to the norm and attend the family get together' take a list of numbers of friends in your support system, so that you can take five minutes out to have a chat when the going gets tough. If all else fails, then the latter part of Christmas Day, come to the channel, and get rid of the anxiety, be with your friends there, we will be there for you.