Mental Health and the Holidays
The holidays are here and although we hope your days are merry and bright, it’s perfectly normal if they are not. There are many reasons why this time of year can wreak havoc on our mental health – busy social calendars, increased spending, decreased sunlight, grief due to family loss and strained family relationships.
Here are some of our top tips to take care of your mental health this holiday season.
- Minimize use of illicit drugs and alcohol or binge eating to numb and avoid feelings.
- Set healthy expectations for time with family (i.e., avoid over commitment, allow yourself to take breaks).
- If you’re grieving, identify concrete ways how others can help (going for a walk, helping with a meal).
- Avoid “should” statements and narratives around what the holidays are “supposed to be.”
- Say NO to events to protect your boundaries.
- If under financial stress, remember that some of the best gifts are experiences or hand-made. Create a gift budget.
- Get more sunlight or use SAD lamps.
- Don’t forget basic self-care: sleep hygiene, healthy meals, exercise, take meds, stick to routines, go to therapy , and monitor your moods.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help, contact us to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation. Our goal is to help you determine if one of our therapists is the right fit for you.
Sources:
Spruce Health,
www.sprucehealth.com
; American Psychological Association,
www.apa.org
; National Alliance of Mental Illness,
www.nami.org
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