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Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays.

Posted on December 7, 2020 Posted By: NamiTriAdminCategories: Local
Mental Health and the holidays

Tips on Managing Your Mental health During the Holidays.

Do you need help for your mental health now?

How can we manage our mental health during the holidays with all the extra distractions, temptations and stressors? It is said the holidays are said to be one of the most trying times for everyone, how can that be during the happiest time of the year? The truth is, many of us fall back into bad habits during the holidays. It’s the metaphorical unbuttoning of our pants when we overeat, but for our mental health, and that can be a slippery slope backwards.
How can we stop ourselves from using the negative coping mechanisms that we have fallen into before? Especially, when we know those coping sills don’t help us in the long run. The frustration of feeling out of control just adds to an already dysregulated mood. It’s frustrating knowing, as soon as the holidays are over, when other people are running for the gym, we are running to the mental health center. Knowing what is wrong is helpful but breaking old patterns means, first, we must establish new ones. That also means holding on to those new coping mechanisms even under stressful and trying times. So what can we do to help ourselves or those we love?
On the NAMI.ORG blog on NOV. 19, 2015, Luna Greenstein wrote “Many people can experience feelings of anxiety or depression during the holiday season. People who already live with a mental health condition should take extra care to tend to their overall health and wellness during this time.”

Perhaps it’s not your mental health you are worried about, is it a family member or a friend that you are concerned for?

While this was written on our blog in 2014, the information is still good today. Read the full blog post here “If your family is as far-flung as mine, the holiday season may be one of the few times of the year you’ll see some relatives. In my family’s holiday pictures, the kids usually look completely different from one year to the next! Maybe one of your relatives has changed too and unfortunately, may be struggling with a mental health issue. Possible signs may include a lower than normal mood, a lack of interest in family activities (withdrawal), crying spells or other symptoms of depression.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, having my family’s support is critical. Before I was first diagnosed, I was very defensive about my symptoms, and would brush off people’s concerns (with some serious teenage attitude). Here is some advice I can share about helping someone you think may be in distress.”

If you need mental health help now, or you feel overwhelmed, sad, or like you are not able to cope over the holidays there is help available for you in Chester, Lancaster and York Counties. Whatever your circumstances, click here to go to our local resources page.
Always remember the CRISIS TEXT LINE: You do not need to be suicidal or a danger to self or others to call or text and ask for help.
Text #NAMI or #HOPE4SC to 741741, this is a 24 hour monitored, free, anonymous, crisis text line.
The Suicide Prevention lifeline – 800-273-8255
SC Dept Mental Health Mobile Crisis Unit +1 833-(364-2274) – Mobile Crisis Unit  
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