The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone. There are expectations, demands, and pressures from family and friends to attend parties, buy gifts, and cook meals. If you are coping with mental illness, you are even more vulnerable to the effects of holiday stress. There are a few things to keep in mind in order to minimize the stress and enjoy the festivities. First, always make yourself a priority. Self-care is the best way to manage stress and mental health symptoms. Keep to your routine as much as possible and make sure you get enough sleep and keep up with the activities that make you feel good. The next key thing to try and remember is to avoid feeling guilty. Do not try to please everyone because that is never possible and it increases stress. Rather, set aside the guilty feelings for now and address them later with your therapist. Third, make sure to stay connected. During the holiday season, it is easy to want to isolate yourself, rather than be involved in all the parties and festivities. If this is the case, try connecting with at least one person at a party or event, as this can significantly decrease the likelihood of depressive symptoms. Next, make sure to be honest with your feelings and identify what you want to do. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is better to be honest with yourself, and remove yourself from the situation or task. Keep in mind that you do not have to attend everything you are invited to. Another thing to be mindful of is to have a plan in mind if you begin to feel overwhelmed with stress. Whether that involves walking the dog, going to the gym, taking a bath, running an errand, or having some quiet time. This allows you to anticipate stress, cope with it in a more positive way, and then more effectively decide what your next move should be. Additionally, try and pick someone to be your “go to person” when you need to vent. Knowing that there is someone on speed dial or close by will help to decrease the stress. Furthermore, it may be wise to avoid alcohol as alcohol can interfere with medication, exacerbate symptoms, increase fatigue, and increase depressive feelings. Finally, humor is an excellent way to decrease stress and improve your mood anytime of day. Find your favorite feel good movie to unwind from stress. From our office to you … Enjoy the holiday season and live well.
