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Does psychosis take a break when you're kissing someone? Does depression take a break when you are eating a fresh, crisp, yummy apple? Does Mania take a break when you are stuffing your face with turkey or ham? Do psychotic symptoms take time off for Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year's? --when you're playing badminton with a friend? --when you're on a hike in the hills? 

I am multiphobic. It is hard for me to go anywhere or do anything. To worsen that situation, my knees have gone bad, and old age is coming sooner than it is supposed to. My dilemma is that I am obsessed with doing enough work. This is a dilemma because if I could play a bit more, I'd be better off. I know this but putting this into effect is another matter. Many people, I am sure, can identify with this. And many people know very well that recreation is good for you, even if some don't take the time for it. 

Changing the subject matter of your mind is one way to push out old tired sticky delusional thinking. If your focus is on something unrelated to drudgery, unrelated to heaviness, and unrelated to that about which you are obsessed, it is an opportunity to be better off. The mind holds onto only so much at once. If you put more things into your consciousness, it pushes out other things. 

Participating in another person's problems is not recommended unless you have a good reason to do so. If you get paid to deal with another person's problems, it is a "good reason." On the other hand, if your significant other or someone else in your life insists that your focus be on helping them get through their set of miserable problems, maybe something is wrong with that picture. 

The holidays can be very challenging if you are mentally ill. By the time you're reading this, the holidays are probably just behind you. It could be a relief to be past them. Or it could be that your holidays were good, and you could feel refreshed. There is no rule that you must enjoy anything that you don't feel able to enjoy. 

If you can feel okay with yourself, whether you see yourself as a participant in the fun, or if you see yourself differently from that, maybe as a "wallflower" it is okay. Self-approval is highly underrated. 

If your symptoms aren't taking time off for the holidays, maybe you can maneuver around them and find some small level of enjoyment. But if not, it doesn't mean you are not acceptable. Maybe I am reminding you of some things you already know. Believe me when I say I'm not talking down to you. People never seem to learn the lesson enough that we must accept ourselves with things exactly as they are...And the other lesson is, "just lighten up a little..."