The festive period can leave many people struggling. For some, embracing the merry in Christmas and the happy in the new year can be a challenge and the festive events and traditions can weigh heavy.
At this time of year my thoughts go to:
• Those who have lost a family member or friend
• The many people who are in a mental health ward
• Those who have no one to celebrate with
• Parents whose children wont be celebrating with them
• The people whose relationship has just ended
• Those who must see abusive family members
• Those with addictions who struggle at this time of year
• The people who have financial stress
• The people whose family are overseas
• The farmers struggling with drought
• All the people who are in hospital
• Those with eating disorders who are struggling to eat
• Children in foster care who want to see their family
• Those that don’t feel there is anything to live for in the New Year
• The many doctors, nurses, the armed forces personnel, police, and ambulance officers who keep working during this time.
In particular my thoughts go to those in the fire service who have had such a difficult year with no end in sight and who don’t look like they will be getting a break over the holidays. Take a second to consider the mental gymnastics that are required to manage the situations above. From having to attend a Christmas celebration with a family member who abused you, to the parents trying to juggle work and family commitments, or the many people struggling to pay the bills at this time of year. All these situations can take a toll on your mental health.
Statistics show how difficult this time can be:
• The most suicides of any day of the year occur on January 1st
• Domestic violence call outs for police surge with statistics reporting 40% increases during December
• On Christmas Day there is a 50% increase in ambulance attendances for alcohol intoxication
• Family stress increases with 36% of men and 33% of women reporting an increase stress in managing work life balance during this time
• Alcohol use triples over the holiday period
The good news is there are other things you can do
• Go for a walk or a hike
• A swim at the beach
• Drink less
• Volunteer
• Read a book
• Binge watch your favourite show on Netflix
• Get out in the garden
• Clean your house
• Spend the day meditating or doing yoga
• Remember for large parts of the world Christmas and New Years are not celebrated and it’s just another workday
We at PsychHelp wish everyone a restful holiday season regardless of your circumstances and we know Christmas and New Years are not times of celebration for everyone. If you are one of the people who does not feel joyous at this time of year you are certainly not alone. If you are struggling at this time of year, please reach out for help.
