Mental Health and The Holidays

The holidays are stressful for everyone. There are a lot of things that need to be done like prepping for family that are coming from out of town and a lot of things to see like the Christmas lights that people have put up, but if you throw mental health into the mix, it’s not going to be fun for everyone involved.

There’s always a vision where you have to be the perfect host, you have to provide everyone with the perfect meal, give the perfect gifts, but as time as on, these expectations have disappeared. There’s so much pressure to have a perfect Christmas. Holiday traditions tend to go away as kids get older, grandparents aren’t around anymore. In a way, it’s a relief, but you still want to be able to hold on to those memories, hoping that they will continue.

You got to find a work/life balance when it comes to planning and organizing for the holidays. You don’t want to be too much stress on yourself. You have to decide what’s important and what you can get rid of. If it hasn’t worked in the past, it may be worth not doing it again.

It’s okay not have to everything together. You can step back and let someone else take over. It’s also okay to not to do Christmas at all. If you need a year off for your mental health, that’s okay. There’s going to be things that happened throughout the year that we can’t control and that will take a toll on you. If skipping Christmas is something you need to do then go right ahead and do it.

If you are struggling with a mental health condition and the holidays are a trigger, it’s good to be surround by a good support system or if there is someone who is the trigger then distance yourself from them. You don’t need to keep that negativity in your life.

Stand up for your mental health. If you feel like not doing something and someone is trying to convince you or guilt trip you into doing something that you know is not good for you, speak up. Nobody should force another person to something they’re not comfortable with.

Be open and honest with how you are feeling. If you have a good support system, they will understand that you need a mental health break. Tell them that you have no interest in celebrating or that you are passing the torch to someone else. If this isn’t your year, then step back and let someone else take the lead.

Don’t put your mental health at risk just to please everyone. There are people in your life that will do whatever it takes to make sure you’re alright. You have to put yourself first and if making sacrifices to make sure you are taking care of you then let it happen. Nobody forces you to celebrate the holidays.

If you want to travel, go ahead to take that trip you’ve been dreaming of. Go see the world and experience Christmas in another country. Meet new people. Who knows, you may create a new tradition where you go to a new country every year.

The holidays can also be a lonely time for people. Depression rates are higher. Christmas is a tough time of year for some people and not celebrating is their way of dealing with it. They don’t need to be reminded of that time in their life.

Because of the holidays, people may not be able to get help that they need. Treatment centres may be closed causing people who are struggling to resort to their old habits causing them to relapse.

If you know someone that is in recovery and you’re scared that they are going to relapse, check in on them, invite them for Christmas dinner. They may feel like nobody cares, but reaching out will let them know you are there for them. Don’t let their recovery be the reason to not keep in touch. Be the reason their year becomes a good one. They are already struggling with trying to stay sober. Don’t give them a reason to go back. Instead, encourage them and let them know that your house is a safe space.

December is a rough month because of everything that goes on and there’s no need to do it all. Take your time and do what feels right. You know yourself better than anyone. There’s no playbook on how to do Christmas. Create new memories. Do what you love. Do what you want to do. No pressure.