It’s that time of the year again. Festive season. Something you loved as a kid, but now it’s just a big old challenge for your mental health. Why is it so hard to celebrate and actually enjoy something that’s supposed to be fun? What are the techniques you can use to cope?
Why holidays are tough for mental health
There is a reason why the holiday season is very tough. Everything is supposed to be happy and perfect. Everyone is supposed to be happy for the time off work or school. However, this can instead trigger what we call Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The truth of the matter is that so much festivity and happiness is expected of us, but sometimes we literally just cannot. Holidays are imperfect. They are filled with stress and triggers. Here are actually a few of the reasons why holidays take a toll on mental health.
Financial concerns
We are supposed to be buying everyone presents and looking presentable during festivities. However, sometimes we just don’t have that kind of money. This leads to financial stress. A season of festivity makes us anxious and filled with tension. Things aren’t looking great for you, but you’re still putting up a front.
Complicated family dynamics
Does this even need any explanation? Siblings and parents can get on our nerves. Narcissists get you walking on eggshells. Toxic and manipulative members promise to make things worse. Some of us are getting back home from school and wish we could go straight back. These things exacerbate mental health.
Stress
The pressure to make everything perfect can cause huge levels of stress, tension and anxiety. Some people have the huge tasks of preparing all the festivities. A level of perfectionism kicks in. Wanting to make everything go alright but instead betraying yourself can happen. we fail to voice our needs to make other people happy.
Feeling depressed and in general, a sense of dread in terms of mental health is normal. However, there are some tips you can use to fight depression and anxiety during the holidays. They can help you to deal with whatever triggers you might face. Let’s get into the 7 ways to care for your mental health during the holidays .
7 ways to care for your mental health during the holidays
I’m glad knowledge of mental health is getting dispersed throughout the world. It’s good to improve and maintain your mental health. Here are 7 ways to care for your mental health during the holidays.
1 | Be prepared for the holidays
#1 for 7 ways to care for your mental health during the holidays: Plan ahead.
Planning ahead and getting your coping mechanisms in place before the festivities is a good idea. This might include scheduling some sessions with your therapist in order to prepare you for the holidays. Go through scenarios that could occur and give yourself some tried and tested coping tips. Set your intentions for dealing with difficult people.
2 | Try to have fun
Depression and other mental health issues get worse when you’re isolating yourself. Reach out to your friends and family and allow yourself to indulge in the festive feels. Try to get excited like before. Go back home to celebrate the holidays. Get into the spirit. You can treat yourself to feel better. Get some cozy socks or a mug. This can help you to care for your mental health during the holidays.
3 | Allow yourself to take breaks
How can you care for your mental health during the holidays?
Taking breaks works as a great tip to fight depression and anxiety during the holidays. There’s a reason why it works so well. Sometimes things can get a bit overwhelming, and we need to escape for a while. Getting asked what’s next in life can onset anxiety. Take a second to move away from the chaos and take deep breaths. Try to ground yourself and repeat your intentions and affirmations for the holidays.
4 | Avoid toxic people
We have to limit the access that toxic people have to our lives. This includes family members! Try not to get riled up by provoking statements. I’ll be a master at that. Don’t react or respond to jibes and find your peaceful inner place. I try to remind myself that only I have the power to allow others to rile me up. it helps to ask if I really want to feel horrible. Usually, the answer is no. This is just one way to care for your mental health during the holidays.
5 | Meditate
Meditating is also another way to care for your mental health during the holidays. Everyone is wishy-washy about meditation. People always ask me how I’m so chill. It’s meditation. Meditation is a workout for the mind. Take this time to set your intentions for the holidays. Work through some anxiety thought while meditating. Talk to yourself, and counteract negative thoughts with positive ones. It’s perfect for the holiday season.
6 | Voice your needs
Number 6 on how to care of your mental health during the holidays: Voice your needs.
Voicing needs is always a bit hard for some of us. We just want others to be happy. We don’t want to ruin their perfect moments. We say we’re okay when we aren’t. we skip out on things we enjoy because we don’t want to bother others. We silence ourselves to remain agreeable and not cause fights. Voicing needs can include voicing intimacy needs to your significant other.
7 | Set reasonable goals
Sometimes we find ourselves setting our targets a bit too high. Stick with what you can do. Whether it’s preparing meals, or how long you’d like to stay over. Things can be a bit tough. I know we have expectations from ourselves and others about how the holidays should be like. This doesn’t mean we should throw it all away just to make others happy or make everything seem perfect. Real life is not so perfect.
The Takeaway
These were tips on how to care for your mental health during the holidays. Remember that mental health has a way of being a little less than perfect during holidays. Having depression, anxiety and other mental disorders flare up during the festive season is normal. It’s something a lot of us go through. Try to enjoy yourself and focus on the good parts. Keep your intentions well greased and ready to pull you through the holidays.
Finally, to everyone out there, have an amazing holiday with the perfect coping mechanisms!
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