Guide on mental health and the holidays. The holiday season (the period of time from Thanksgiving until the New Year) is supposed to be a joyous time full of celebrations with family and friends. But for many people, “the most wonderful time of year” brings nothing but holiday anxiety and stress.

We gather for the holidays with family and friends, seeking peace and joy. But for some of us, it’s the season of stress and depression.

Understanding our stresses and worries can help us better prepare to cope and find new ways to enjoy the season. Planning ahead can make a difference as well.

The holidays often present a dizzying array of demands — cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few.

While many people become overwhelmed and stressed during the holiday season. You can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would.

Below are some practical steps you can take to dial down your stress and anxiety leading up to and including the holidays.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness noted that 64% of individuals living with a mental illness felt that their conditions worsened around the holidays.

Tips for Holiday Survival

Keep It Simple guide on mental health

It’s not a contest to see how lavish a gift you can buy or how extravagant of a meal you can cook. Eliminate as many details as you can, so that you have less to worry about. Plan a potluck instead of cooking a whole meal yourself. Buy gift cards for everyone on your holiday gift list. Get comfortable with the idea that you don’t have to do everything.

Prioritize Your Health

This time of year, it’s easy to forget about your needs and let your health slide. But taking care of yourself reduces your anxiety and improves your overall wellbeing. Make sure you are eating healthy foods, staying physically active, and getting enough sleep. And think twice about overindulging in alcohol—it may actually worsen your anxiety symptoms.

Make Time for You Guide on Mental Health

Schedule time in your day to relax. Even 15 minutes alone can give you the energy you need to handle everything that comes your way.

Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Find an activity you enjoy. Take a break by yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.

Relaxation exercises such as yoga or meditation are often a big help. Or you can find a quiet space to sip on some chamomile tea and burn a scented candle. You can even use your downtime to journal or read a book. It’s up to you, just choose something that relaxes your body and calms your mind.

Plan Ahead

Identify your anxiety triggers, and do what you can to plan ahead to avoid them. If you’re worried about spending too much money, put together a budget as soon as you can. Similarly, if holiday shopping stresses you out, try to get it over with as soon as possible. If social situations make you uncomfortable, see if any of your friends are attending the same event. Use your calendar to plan specific days for shopping, baking, and visiting friends. Plan your menus in advance, and shop efficiently. The more time you have to prepare for upcoming events, the less overwhelmed and anxious you’ll be.

Develop a holiday budget

Decide what you can afford and stick to it. Charitable giving may be a more rewarding alternative to buying gifts.

Pay attention to your symptoms of stress

Despite your best efforts, you may still need help. Have your symptoms of stress and depression lasted for more than two weeks? Are they affecting your daily life, resulting in poor concentration, sleep or appetite disturbance?

Don’t let these feelings linger and see your doctor as soon as possible. It takes courage to talk about these things but we’re here to listen. Sometimes all that is needed is reassurance but in other cases, more assistance may be necessary.

Your doctor can help decide the best course of action. And you just might end up enjoying the holidays even more than you thought possible. 

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognize your holiday triggers so you can combat them before they lead to a meltdown. With a little planning and some positive thinking, you can find peace and joy during the holidays.

Be Blessed…Stay Safe!