Mental Health During The Holidays

As much as the holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of year, for many it’s quite the opposite.

Those suffering from mental illnesses may find the holidays triggering for any number of reasons—allowing loneliness, anxiety, and depression to settle in.

Learning what your triggers are and how to avoid them, will help reduce holiday blues.

Triggers

Family

Family gatherings are often a source of stress and anxiety during the holiday season.

Whether there is a toxic family dynamic, or even a lack of family, the holiday’s can be hard to get through.

Limiting time with family, or certain family members will be greatly beneficial to your mental health. Even if your family doesn’t understand the boundaries you are setting, you have to learn to say no and take care of yourself first.

However, if you’re feeling the opposite, and feeling lonely, scared, or isolated, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone. Whether that be to a friend, a colleague, a pastor, or a mental health clinician, there are many resources available to you.

Money

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Money is a top cause of stress for many Americans.”

Money is a trigger for people not only during the holidays, but everyday life. However, it can seem amplified during this season. From holiday meals and decorations to gifts and extra added expenses, the holidays can cost a pretty penny.

Sticking to a budget will help give you some peace of mind. Know your limits, make sure your bills are paid and don’t over-buy if you know you can’t afford it. Using your credit cards to charge unnecessary amounts will only bring you greater stress later on.

If you’re not good at sticking to a budget, setting money aside throughout the year can be another useful tactic for surviving the expenses of the holidays.

Healthy Habits

The holidays often come with drinks, feasts, and lots of sweets. It can be hard to not over-indulge. Like anything, it’s okay to enjoy these things in moderation. By avoiding excessive eating and drinking, you’re making it easier on yourself to avoid making it a habit once the holidays are over.

If you normally eat healthy foods, continue eating healthy meals and snacks throughout the season, and make sure you are getting enough sleep and exercising like normal.

Avoid excessive social mediause if you find it to be triggering. If you’re scrolling through your feed, seeing the plethora of gifts your friend received, or the fancy meals or vacations they are on, exit out of the app and remind yourself that people only post their highlight reels.  

Sticking to your healthy habits will only benefit you in the long run. Acknowledge your feelings and triggers and make time to take care of yourself and make yourself a priority. Your future self with thank you for it.

Communicare specializes in all things involving the brain, including mental health treatment. If you or someone you know needs help dealing with the stress and anxiety that comes from the holiday season, we have highly-trained mental health therapists on staff and immediate availability.