The Truth of Holiday Stress and Mental Health: How to Handle the Holidays
This post may contain editorial samples and/or affiliate links. We earn a commission on your sales.
The holidays are a time for happiness, family, and friends. But for many people, the holidays can also be a time of stress and anxiety. If you’re one of those people who feels overwhelmed by the holiday season, don’t worry – you’re not alone. In this post, we’ll discuss some tips for managing holiday stress and mental health during this time of year.
Table of Contents
What is holiday stress?
Holiday stress is one of the biggest sources of stress. For some people, it’s the pressure to spend time with family members who they don’t always get along with. Others may feel stressed about having to travel during the holiday season. And for many people, the financial burden of gift-giving can be a source of holiday stress.
Holiday stress is also a common trigger for mental health problems like anxiety and depression. If you already suffer from a mental health condition, the holiday season can be a particularly difficult time.
Helpful Tips for handling holiday stress and mental health
It’s no secret that the holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. Between buying gifts, attending holiday parties, and dealing with family dynamics, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and feelings of anxiety. If you’re struggling to keep your head above water this holiday season, here are a few tips that may help:
- Take some time for yourself.
Make sure to schedule some “me” time during this busy season. Whether it’s taking a long bath, going for a walk, or reading your favorite book, taking some time for yourself will help you recharge and reduce stress.
- Don’t try to do it all.
It’s impossible to please everyone, and you don’t have to. The holiday season is about quality, not quantity. Do what you can, and let the rest go.
- Set realistic expectations.
If your holiday season doesn’t look like a Hallmark movie, that’s okay. The holidays don’t have to be perfect to be enjoyable. Set realistic expectations for yourself, and you’ll be less likely to feel disappointed or stressed.
- Talk to someone.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, share your feelings with a friend or family member. Talking about your stress can help you feel better, and it may even give you some insight into how to manage it.
Dealing with depression and anxiety during the holidays
If you suffer from depression or anxiety, the holiday season can be a triggering time. If you’re feeling extra anxious or down this year, here are a few things that may help:
- Make a plan.
If holiday parties or family gatherings make you anxious, make a plan ahead of time. Decide who you’re going to talk to, what you’re going to say, and how you’re going to stay calm.
- Take your medication.
If you take medication for depression or anxiety, make sure to take it as prescribed during the holiday season. This is not the time to skip doses or go off of your medication.
- Talk to mental health professionals
If you’re feeling particularly struggling this holiday season, reach out to a mental health professional. They can help you manage your symptoms and make it through this difficult time.
7 top stressors for the holiday blues for my husband
- Gets Overstimulated Easily
He gets craves alone time a lot. It’s only the two of us in our home and he can only deal with so much togetherness at a time. All of the holiday activities would trigger a Bipolar episode if we celebrated the holidays.
- Hates attention to himself
I love to receive gifts and surprises. While he loves to spoil me and loves to buy me little gifts, he does not like gifts for himself. It’s a constant struggle because I want to spoil him too. He doesn’t like any attention directed at him. He doesn’t like to be the center of attention.
- Memories of lost family members
We have all lost family members. The holidays are a time family usually share stories about those that passed. Maybe it’s talking about making a dish following Grandma’s recipe. It could be sharing a funny story about the past with a lost family member. My husband has lost 3 family members around the holidays. He just can’t deal with it. He can not move on from the past and tends to get “stuck on it”. He is working on it with his therapist, but this is one of his biggest quirks if you will.
- The stress of any kind
Stress is a big trigger for him any time of year. The added stress of the holidays would send him into holiday depression, so we try to avoid stress as much as possible.
- Gets annoyed at constant Holiday commercials
We all know how they start to advertise the holidays earlier and earlier these days on tv and in the stores. He hates this and he yells at the television over the endless holiday commercials. Especially if it’s the same ones being played over and over. Forget about getting him to watch Christmas movies like the Hallmark ones. I can get him to watch the classic cartoons with me though.
- Does not cope well if his daily routine interrupted
He does not like his routine interrupted in general. He will ask me every night “what is on my agenda tomorrow?” Some days when he wakes up, he’ll ask me again. He is a stickler for routines. If I decide I want to go to the store or something at the spur of the moment, he typically will not go with me. He loves to stay home way too often, to be honest. It has to be a planned outing to get him to go out of the house and depending on what it is, there is still a 50/50 chance he’ll change his mind about going.
- Does not enjoy holiday decorations
This goes with his daily routine. He doesn’t like decorations because it obviously changes the way the house looks on a daily basis. He is a minimalist, to begin with. A friend of ours is a serious hoarder and has commented that our home looks like we are moving out. When we get any packages delivered, he has to the boxes out to the garbage immediately.
Take care of yourself this holiday season
It is always important to take care of yourself, it is especially important when you have holiday stress and mental health issues.
Here are some tips:
- Get professional help
If you feel like you need professional help, please get it. This is not the time to suffer in silence. holiday stress and mental health can be a trigger for people who have depression or anxiety.
- Get enough sleep
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can make holiday stress and mental health issues worse.
- Exercise
Exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood.
- Eat healthily
Eating a healthy diet can also help reduce holiday stress and mental health issues.
- Talk to someone
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to a friend or family member about what you’re going through. Sometimes just talking about your holiday stress and mental health issues can help make them feel more manageable.
- Take time for self-care
Make sure you’re taking time for yourself this holiday season. Do things that make you happy and relax you. This may include reading a good book, taking a bath, or listening to music.
How to handle social events?
The holiday season is full of social events, from holiday parties to family gatherings. If you’re struggling with holiday stress and mental health issues, here are some tips for how to handle social events:
- Plan ahead
If you know you’re going to be attending a holiday party or family gathering, take some time to plan ahead. Think about who will be there and how you’re going to feel. If you’re feeling anxious, consider arriving early or bringing a friend.
- Set limits
It’s okay to set limits on how much holiday socializing you do. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, let your friends and family know that you need some time to yourself.
Take breaks
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, take a break from the holiday party or family gathering. Step outside for some fresh air, go to another room, or excuse yourself to use the restroom.
What are some unhealthy coping mechanisms?
Some unhealthy coping mechanisms for holiday stress and mental health include:
- Substance Abuse
If you’re struggling with holiday stress and mental health, do not turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope. This will only make your problems worse.
- Overeating
Overeating is another unhealthy way to cope with holiday stress and mental health. Eating too much food can lead to weight gain, which can make you feel even worse about yourself.
- Not Sleeping
Not getting enough sleep is also an unhealthy way to cope with holiday stress and mental health. Lack of sleep can make you feel fatigued, irritable, and unable to concentrate. It is always important to get the proper hours of sleep you need for your mental and physical health.
The holiday season can be a difficult time for people who are struggling with holiday stress and mental health. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, make sure to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need it. There is no shame in getting professional help or talking to a friend or family member about what you’re going through. The holiday season should be a time of joy, so make sure to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need it.
Follow Me On Social Media:
