If you know someone spending Christmas alone, please take some time out on Christmas day to call them and make sure they know that someone cares for them.
It is my first Christmas as a single parent of two teenagers. I’m trying to make the best of it but I find it impossible to let people know I’m struggling. In the absence of invitations and people checking in with me, I’ve taken myself off to the gym to stop the mental spiral. I know that option isn’t available to everyone.
I’m not alone like some people but mentally I feel completely isolated from everyone else. I haven’t yet begun to process being by myself in the MS future, such as it is the great unknown.
Prof. I look forward to your updates. You can’t take the disease away from us but it means a lot to be validated.
I'm the one spending Christmas alone this year. I came down with Covid a few days ago. I'm feeling fine but Christmas will be Day 6 and the friends who were coming for Christmas dinner are both clinically vulnerable. So we've rescheduled to New Year's Day.
I am really looking forward to getting outside again and I'm still planning to volunteer at parkrun. New Year's Day was going to be my 100th volunteering credit but it will have to be a couple of weeks later now as I had to miss parkrun yesterday and junior parkrun this morning.
Because I'm feeling fine I've been spending my time working on my core strength, with Pilates, yoga and a runners' conditioning programme. I'm annoyed this has interrupted my marathon training and can't wait to get back to it.
Friends have been good at checking on me and we already had a Boxing Day Zoom call in the calendar. My family is in New Zealand and I'll catch up with them tonight (Christmas morning there) and see the kids open their presents.
Thank you for all your information in 2023. It’s helped me at a time when seeing medics has become challenging. Although good news is that our MS helpline is back up and running.
Happy Christmas to all the readers too. We try to be aware of others and support the Trussell Trust with donation. I find it so shocking that in a country with so much people are not only in relative but absolute poverty too. Love and warmth to all.
I have seen this message last year as well. I was alone then. This year I am alone when seeing this message with tears in my eye. I hope my plan works next year and I can back to visit my family not to be alone again.
Loneliness is my worst experience that I had in the UK.
I know the feeling as well, and it's awful. I wish the best for you and that your plan works out for you incredibly. Happy Holidays and a better and brighter New Year!
Sorry to read that you are lonely but pleased this gives the chance for people to respond to you, wish you well and also reach out to others who are lonely, and try to help in some small way. Best wishes for 2024
I am lucky I have my parents. My siblings and a couple very good friends also new friends in hospital Very important topic, nevertheless thank you, doctor g for this topic. Blessings. To all pwMS 🙏
Thank you Prof G for all your knowledge and experience that you share with us so regularly. The time you devote to people with MS in invaluable. I am so thankful I found you, as you have added so much to my MS knowledge and have helped in ways I never knew were possible. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all people in the comments!
Couldn’t agree more Prof G. Social interaction is the best brain exercise we have for brain ageing due to any cause, including MS. Nurture friends and family - they are my best support - and include those who would otherwise be alone. Merry Christmas
I've often thought that loneliness is the desire to interact with other people but isolation is the recognition that no one is there. So, you can be isolated in a crowd. In your own way, you are a spark that shows someone is there. I hope you keep doing what you do for a long time. Thank you for all your thoughts this year. Your MS Selfie notes are like Christmas day every time they arrive.
Prof G you are 100% correct - I have never felt more alone and miserable than during the pandemic,when I avoided my parents,my friends and other family members. I pray that such times never happen again. Happy holidays everyone!
Thank you Prof G for your kindness and understanding of this odd disease that seems isolating in myriad small ways. At this time we give to the hungriest through the local food bank. Part of the loneliness to me (this sounds strange) is the loss of multitasking with cooking! But I’m giving it my best. You are one in more than a million! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 🎄💕
I was reading a study a couple of weeks ago about dementia that included reference to MS. Not unsurprisingly it stated PwMS tend to move within a smaller geographical area and have smaller social networks. When your body and brain is limited, vulnerable and unreliable then this makes perfect sense.
Added to which loneliness can manifest in various guises - the worst being chronic isolation, all the way through to mere moments of time. For example yesterday I was good form and had a lovely time with my husbands family here for Christmas dinner; however I was too exhausted after they left to engage in a FaceTime with our son, who was with his partners family. I could’ve gone ahead with it, but knew I reached the stage of likely being monosyllabic and looking to end the call too quickly. He was fine about it, not least because the WiFi was rubbish, so he told us. But this did cause me a brief sense of being isolated from those I love most and it made me feel bad that this meant my husband missed out on speaking directly to our son.
More positively I’m glad you flag up this vitally important issue each Christmas; after reading it last year I went on to reach out to some old friends, with whom I’ve enjoyed intermittent contact with since. I’m also aiming to join the local U3A this coming year; delayed from doing so last year by my husband undergoing treatment for cancer and medical issues with my mum.
Any of us motivated to seek ways to undermine the beast that is loneliness, thanks to your prompting, will be pushing back against our biggest monster and anything we can do in this regard is a ‘Bring it on!’ I say.
Hope you, your family and all the readers are having as an enriching a festive period as possible and here’s to 2024!
It is my first Christmas as a single parent of two teenagers. I’m trying to make the best of it but I find it impossible to let people know I’m struggling. In the absence of invitations and people checking in with me, I’ve taken myself off to the gym to stop the mental spiral. I know that option isn’t available to everyone.
I’m not alone like some people but mentally I feel completely isolated from everyone else. I haven’t yet begun to process being by myself in the MS future, such as it is the great unknown.
Prof. I look forward to your updates. You can’t take the disease away from us but it means a lot to be validated.
Happy Christmas to you.
I'm the one spending Christmas alone this year. I came down with Covid a few days ago. I'm feeling fine but Christmas will be Day 6 and the friends who were coming for Christmas dinner are both clinically vulnerable. So we've rescheduled to New Year's Day.
I am really looking forward to getting outside again and I'm still planning to volunteer at parkrun. New Year's Day was going to be my 100th volunteering credit but it will have to be a couple of weeks later now as I had to miss parkrun yesterday and junior parkrun this morning.
Because I'm feeling fine I've been spending my time working on my core strength, with Pilates, yoga and a runners' conditioning programme. I'm annoyed this has interrupted my marathon training and can't wait to get back to it.
Friends have been good at checking on me and we already had a Boxing Day Zoom call in the calendar. My family is in New Zealand and I'll catch up with them tonight (Christmas morning there) and see the kids open their presents.
Thank you for all your information in 2023. It’s helped me at a time when seeing medics has become challenging. Although good news is that our MS helpline is back up and running.
Happy Christmas to all the readers too. We try to be aware of others and support the Trussell Trust with donation. I find it so shocking that in a country with so much people are not only in relative but absolute poverty too. Love and warmth to all.
Dear Prof. Gavin
I have seen this message last year as well. I was alone then. This year I am alone when seeing this message with tears in my eye. I hope my plan works next year and I can back to visit my family not to be alone again.
Loneliness is my worst experience that I had in the UK.
Hi Fateme,
I understand that it’s a lonely disease, sometimes even when I’m not alone. I wish you well in seeing your family. We are here. A better 2024 to you!💕
Hello, Fateme.
I know the feeling as well, and it's awful. I wish the best for you and that your plan works out for you incredibly. Happy Holidays and a better and brighter New Year!
-Christopher
Sorry to read that you are lonely but pleased this gives the chance for people to respond to you, wish you well and also reach out to others who are lonely, and try to help in some small way. Best wishes for 2024
I am lucky I have my parents. My siblings and a couple very good friends also new friends in hospital Very important topic, nevertheless thank you, doctor g for this topic. Blessings. To all pwMS 🙏
Thank you Prof G for all your knowledge and experience that you share with us so regularly. The time you devote to people with MS in invaluable. I am so thankful I found you, as you have added so much to my MS knowledge and have helped in ways I never knew were possible. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all people in the comments!
Couldn’t agree more Prof G. Social interaction is the best brain exercise we have for brain ageing due to any cause, including MS. Nurture friends and family - they are my best support - and include those who would otherwise be alone. Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, to everyone!
Compassion, tolerance and knowledge are fundamental to helping others feel connected as well as reaching out to the people we know.
And to you, Christopher! Happy holidays! 🎄
I've often thought that loneliness is the desire to interact with other people but isolation is the recognition that no one is there. So, you can be isolated in a crowd. In your own way, you are a spark that shows someone is there. I hope you keep doing what you do for a long time. Thank you for all your thoughts this year. Your MS Selfie notes are like Christmas day every time they arrive.
Prof G you are 100% correct - I have never felt more alone and miserable than during the pandemic,when I avoided my parents,my friends and other family members. I pray that such times never happen again. Happy holidays everyone!
Thank you for everything you do for us MSers every day Prof G. You are a genuine star. Merry Christmas and wishing you all the very best for 2024. xx
Thank you Prof G for your kindness and understanding of this odd disease that seems isolating in myriad small ways. At this time we give to the hungriest through the local food bank. Part of the loneliness to me (this sounds strange) is the loss of multitasking with cooking! But I’m giving it my best. You are one in more than a million! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all! 🎄💕
I was reading a study a couple of weeks ago about dementia that included reference to MS. Not unsurprisingly it stated PwMS tend to move within a smaller geographical area and have smaller social networks. When your body and brain is limited, vulnerable and unreliable then this makes perfect sense.
Added to which loneliness can manifest in various guises - the worst being chronic isolation, all the way through to mere moments of time. For example yesterday I was good form and had a lovely time with my husbands family here for Christmas dinner; however I was too exhausted after they left to engage in a FaceTime with our son, who was with his partners family. I could’ve gone ahead with it, but knew I reached the stage of likely being monosyllabic and looking to end the call too quickly. He was fine about it, not least because the WiFi was rubbish, so he told us. But this did cause me a brief sense of being isolated from those I love most and it made me feel bad that this meant my husband missed out on speaking directly to our son.
More positively I’m glad you flag up this vitally important issue each Christmas; after reading it last year I went on to reach out to some old friends, with whom I’ve enjoyed intermittent contact with since. I’m also aiming to join the local U3A this coming year; delayed from doing so last year by my husband undergoing treatment for cancer and medical issues with my mum.
Any of us motivated to seek ways to undermine the beast that is loneliness, thanks to your prompting, will be pushing back against our biggest monster and anything we can do in this regard is a ‘Bring it on!’ I say.
Hope you, your family and all the readers are having as an enriching a festive period as possible and here’s to 2024!
Merry Christmas everyone! I also suffer from being lonely. I try to reach out like you suggest Prof G. Loneliness is all around us.
Thank you for everything over the years! You’ve done so much to educate me, and I’m so appreciative.
I apologize for my late reply, Gardenlady... but I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! And have a better and brighter New Year.