Christmas

What things can make Christmas difficult?

• What can I do if my family isn’t getting on?

  Christmas can be a stressful time for families. For instance, parents might feel under pressure to buy presents and lots of nice food even though money is short. Families that live apart because parents are divorced or separated might argue about arrangements for the holidays. Sometimes people drink too much alcohol and say or do things they shouldn’t. Families sometimes get on each others nerves if the weather is bad and everyone is stuck indoors together for too long.

  It's normal for families not to get along with each other sometimes. Every family has problems from time to time, even if they are usually happy and don't often argue. If you are worried about your family arguing you could talk to your parents or carers about how you feel.  They might not realise that you are worried about it.

  Read more about family relationships and how to deal with arguments

• Missing a family member who has died

  Christmas is usually a time for families to get together, but if a family member has died, such as a grandparent or your Mum or Dad, this can be a very sad time. 

  You might feel more upset as Christmas will bring up memories.  If you want to talk to someone about how you feel, ChildLine is here for you.  You can phone us on
  0800 1111, log in for a 1-2-1 chat or send us an email and we can help.

  Read more about dealing with bereavement and when someone dies

• Feeling lonely or isolated

  If you are feeling lonely or isolated, Christmas can make you feel even worse than usual because people keep saying it’s a time of getting together with others and having a great time.  If you are away from your family or are living in care, Christmas could be difficult to deal with.

  The most important thing if you are feeling alone or down is not to keep it all to yourself.  Talking about how you feel to someone you trust will help them to understand, and means that they can support you.

  If you don’t have anyone you can talk to, you can always talk to us on 0800 1111.

  Feeling lonely or isolated? Find out more information, help and advice

• My Mum/Dad won’t be with us at Christmas

  Sometimes Mums, Dads or other family members can’t be at home at Christmas.  This might be because they are working abroad, such as if they are in the armed forces, or because your parents have split up.

  If your Mum, Dad or another relative isn’t going to be with you this year, then you may be feeling very sad and unhappy.  It can really help to talk to someone about how you feel such as another member of your family, your carers or someone you trust like a teacher or friend.  If you don’t feel that you can talk to them you can always contact us.

• My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas

  It might seem like everyone celebrates Christmas when every advert on the TV is about it and the shops are full of Christmas decorations and gifts. Even if your family don’t celebrate Christmas, you can still enjoy this time of year.  It’s a holiday and that means you have some time to relax, enjoy yourself and see friends and family. 

  You could talk to your Mum, Dad or carers about feeling left out or different. They might not realise that you feel this way. If you can’t talk to them, you can talk to ChildLine.  We are here for you no matter what your worry is.

• Eating problems

  Celebrating Christmas often involves a lot of food and drink.  If you sometimes have a problem with food and eating, this time of year might make you anxious about:

  • eating too much (compulsive eating)
  • not wanting to eat (anorexia)
  • eating and then making yourself sick (bulimia),

  If you are beginning to feel worried about the amount you eat or think that you might have a problem with food, you can talk to us about it. We can help you and we are here for you whenever you need us. The explore section also has lots of information on health issues.

  Find out more about eating problems

  You can also visit the how you look page which talks about body worries and has useful tips on how to start building up your confidence and self esteem

• Who can I turn to?

  ChildLine are always open. Whatever your worry, we are here for you.

  You can call ChildLine on 0800 1111 (calls are free from all phones including mobiles, telephone boxes and landlines and our number won't show up on a phone bill).
  If you're not ready to call just yet, you can also speak to a counsellor through
  1-2-1 chat online (like msn) or send an email - All you need to do is log in to your locker (this keeps it safe) or, if you are new to ChildLine, you can sign up in 6 easy steps. Find out more about the locker and what else you can do.

  Our friendly counsellors understand the sorts of problems you might be worried about and are trained to help. Read more about what contacting ChildLine is like.

  You can also see what other young people have said about the ChildLine service on the, 'What does ChildLine mean to you?' message board

  If something is on your mind over the Christmas holidays, no matter how big or how small you feel the problem is, remember that you are not alone. You can talk to us.