Are Your Moods Tied to the Changing Seasons?
It’s that time of year when the days become markedly shorter, which can leave millions of people more prone to depression. Here are some signs that you might be dealing with seasonal affective disorder.
6 Tips for Managing the Holidays When Your Mental Health Isn’t 100%
It’s hard to believe, but another holiday season is here and you’re feeling a little less than jolly about it all. The holidays can be stressful under the best of circumstances — a recent poll found that 43% of participants reported that stress interferes with their ability to enjoy the holidays.
If you’re among the millions of Americans who are struggling with a mental health issue, such as anxiety, which affects 40 million adults, or depression, which affects 21 million adults, the holidays come with even more challenges
To help you surmount these challenges, and even enjoy yourself a little this year, Dr. Diana Ghelber and the team at Institute for Advanced Psychiatry pulled together some best practices for managing the holidays when your mental health isn’t 100%.
1. Pace yourself, but push yourself
Our first piece of advice is to pace yourself, but we also want you to get out and connect. When you have anxiety or depression, your inclination might be to hide and isolate, but connecting with friends and family is important for your mental well-being.
So, you don’t have to say “yes” to everything, and you can take a timeout every once in a while; but we also encourage you to get involved. And remember, you always have the option to leave early.
2. The holidays aren’t a competition
Between social media and gift giving, the holidays can feel competitive for many people. First, we urge you to stay off social media during this time — remember, much of what you see isn’t the real story. As well, if finances are an issue, remember that the holidays should be about quality time spent together and not the gifts.
3. Stay connected with your support groups
If you’re part of a support group that benefits your mental health, whether it’s an online chat room or an in-person 12-step program, it’s a great idea to stay connected over the holidays. Support groups often accommodate the added mental stress of the holidays and offer special holiday meetings and sessions.
4. Find ways to decompress
If there’s something that works to destress you, such as listening to music or going for a walk, make sure to carve out time for these activities over the holidays. You can even invite an out-of-town friend to join you for some added connection.
5. Watch the alcohol
Many holiday feasts feature alcohol, which can exacerbate mental health issues. So, if the drinks are flowing, we suggest that you limit yourself to one or two or, better yet, abstain completely.
6. Get help before, during, and after
We also strongly recommend that you lay the groundwork for a good holiday by making sure that you keep up with your mental health treatments. Now is not the time to skip your medications, your psychotherapy, your ketamine, or your transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments.
While we may not be open on the official holiday, we’re very much available over the holiday season; and we can work together to make sure that you have the right resources to not only manage this holiday season but enjoy it, too.
To make sure your mental health tool kit is up-to-date before the holiday season, please contact our office today in Fort Worth, Texas, to schedule a consultation.
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