We will be closed for the Winter Holidays 2025

We will be closed for the winter holidays. We close at 5pm on Friday 19th December 2025 and reopen at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026.

The winter holidays can be difficult for lots of different reasons. Struggling with difficult feelings, flashbacks and reminders is an unfortunate reality for many survivors. We understand it can be difficult but there is support available. If you are experiencing flashbacks you can read our blog that shares some ways of coping with them here.

Affirmations can also be really powerful tools to help build confidence, reduce anxiety, stress and depression and increase self-worth. They might be helpful to try if you are struggling through the holidays. If you’ve never used affirmations before here’s how you can use them:

1. read them out loud to yourself, you can read them to yourself in the mirror too if you feel comfortable
2. record yourself or someone else you know saying the affirmation and listen back to it a few times, hearing yourself say the affirmations can increase belief in yourself
3. write them down in places you may frequently visit like the fridge or the front door for example, seeing them around the house can remind you of your confidence and self worth.

We’ve compiled a list of affirmations that might be helpful during the winter break:

• I am allowed to make a big deal out of things that feel really big to me.
• No amount of darkness can dim my light
• I am allowed to say no
• I am worthy of peace
• I take each day one at a time
• It’s okay to rest
• Inhale courage, exhale fear
• I find strength even on the darkest nights

If you need support during the winter break, you can contact the Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline. It will be open from 5pm to midnight every night, excluding Christmas Day and Hogmanay, where it will shut an hour earlier at 11pm.
? 08088 010302
? 07537 410027*
? support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
? www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
*the text number will appear in your itemised phone bill