Looking after your mental health during the festive season
The Holiday Season is often talked about as a time of happiness, but this time of year isn't necessarily all that fun for everyone.
For many people, the holidays can be a time of stress, anxiety, disappointment or loneliness. With busy schedules, financial stress and the family issues that can come with the festive season - it can quickly become very overwhelming.
For the 1 in 5 Australians living with a mental health condition, the added stress and expectation to be happy and have fun during Christmas can often exacerbate symptoms of mental illness.
So let's help you face that. Here are some steps and precautions that can help you manage your mental health during the festive season:
Acknowledge your feelings:
There is a lot of pressure to feel happy during the holiday season. Give yourself grace and acknowledge any feelings of sadness, stress, grief or loneliness. Your mental health should always come first.
Set boundaries:
Living up to the expectations of what your friends and family want to do for Christmas can be exhausting. Think about what you want to do for this holiday season and plan accordingly. Try to set manageable boundaries surrounding the events you attend, how long you stay and what activities you participate in (gifts, food prep etc). It’s okay to say no - no matter what time of year.
Keep your routine:
The Christmas season can become extremely busy and it can be easy to fall out of your regular routine. This loss of routine can affect the mechanisms that support positive mental health. Although it may be hard to keep up with your exact regular schedule, try to prioritise the parts of your routine that help support your mental wellbeing.
Take Time to Grieve:
For many people who have lost special people in their lives, the holiday season can bring up feelings of grief or loneliness. If you can, try to talk about your loved one and share memories with those who miss them and are most likely feeling the same way. It is okay to have fun and enjoy yourself as well. You don't need to feel guilty, and enjoying yourself doesn't mean you don't miss them.
Most importantly, if you are struggling and feeling alone, reach out and talk to someone you trust. If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone that you know, there are many support and mental health services that available over the holiday period:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
GriefLine: 1300 845 745
Q-Life LGBTQIA+: 1800 184 527
Men’s Line Australia: 1300 789 978
💙 You are loved 💙