I’m only going to say this once- as I usually do during the Christmas Holidays- and from this point forward I’m not going to say it again.

I look at the Christmas Holidays as a beast that I do battle with and even though I manage to limp out of the Holidays with a few good memories and no calls to the the Suicide Prevention Hotline ( which I consider and INVALUABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE ) I do live in fear that this year the Holiday Beast will get the better of me.

With that being said, I’ll jump into the Holiday Season and I will try to make the best of it. I will put up a tree and shop for presents and manage to get it wrong like I do every year. I’ll listen to Christmas music and read and write ghost stories.

On top of it all I’ll try to hold myself together- like I always do. But I have help. I have a wonderful counselor and I have the best dog in the world named Hamish.

Now, if you don’t have a dog like Hamish Macbeth and things get rough, call the number below- like I said I do this battle every year and I guess my goal is to be here to do it again. You need to be there too.

That aside, I want more for you- and so does Hamish Macbeth. Trust me on this. He does.That dog is SO into humans it’s stunning. I mean he loves us more than peanut butter and that is saying something.

What to know before calling a crisis hotline

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at a crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

The 988 Lifeline

988 is now active across the United States. This new, shorter phone number will make it easier for people to remember and access mental health crisis services. (Please note, the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number will continue to function indefinitely.) Click the link above to learn more about 988.