This time of year is very hard for me, too. I have family but seeing them is upsetting because one of them abused me.

Being in public makes things worse for me. There are more crowds, which I find very stressful, and lots of families, which brings up complicated emotions for me. I have a job with required holiday leave, which sounds great but makes me miserable. It means the routine and distraction of my days is gone. Over the years I have found that setting up a schedule helps--I make a list of things I "have to" do and that keeps my mind away from how upset I feel.