Festive season: How to manage your mental health during the holidays

By Zuko Komisa

Festive season: How to manage your mental health during the holidays.

It’s a season to celebrate and reflect on the year it was. Many people will be setting expectations for an extra special Christmas and planning time to connect with family and friends in celebration.

While many individuals will be taking some downtime, many are unaware that this time of year may also put a sharp focus on financial concerns, family strife, and loneliness, as well as raise stress for those who already suffer from anxiety and depression.

Feelings of being overburdened and heightened anxiety may result from juggling the demands of shopping, parties, family commitments, and house guests.

Even those who don’t think they’re depressed can have stress-related symptoms like headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, and insomnia.

Also read: Expert advice on how women can boost mental health during the pandemic

These tips will help you cope with holiday stress and depression:

• Make realistic expectations for the holiday season.
• Set realistic goals for yourself.
• Pace yourself.
• Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
• Make a list and prioritize the important activities. This can help make holiday tasks more manageable.
• Be realistic about what you can and cannot do.
• Live and enjoy the present while you look to the future with optimism.
• If you are lonely, try giving yourself time to help others.
• Limit your drinking, since excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
• Try something new, and give yourself time to celebrate the holidays in a new way.
• Make time for yourself and encourage others to support your decision to be alone at times, to gather yourself.

If you’re facing a difficult time over the Christmas and New Year period, it’s important to reach out and get support. It could be as simple as sending a text to a friend, making a phone call or inviting someone over for a cup of coffee to talk about what’s happening.

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