Christmas, a time to be merry and bright?

As we go full swing into the festive season, it’s a time of parties, gatherings and other festivities, which involve friends and family, food and drink, giving and receiving of gifts, and a time to be joyful, merry and bright.  But for some, it can be a very challenging time, bringing up all sorts of emotions and anxieties around finances, family relationships, loss, food, substance overuse, loneliness and other issues.

The festive season can trigger or worsen mental health symptoms. People with depression may find it difficult to maintain being happy and present, and for those who lean towards worry and anxiety, those feelings can really ramp up during this time.

Christmas can also bring up difficult family relationships, loneliness, grief, or feelings related to childhood.  There is also the pressure to socialise more than usual, have the perfect Christmas experience and overindulge in food, alcohol or recreational drugs.

People who have experienced trauma may experience exacerbated feelings of high-level anxiety and intrusive thoughts during the festive season.

Here are some tips for coping with difficulties over the coming weeks:

• Plan ahead – if you think you’re going to experience low mood or anxiety at particular times, put things in place to help ease this, for example, a call with a friend, exercise, or other activities that make you feel good.
• Limit your social media use – if we’re feeling particularly vulnerable, seeing what everyone is up to and being bombarded with ‘perfect Christmases’ online can be overwhelming and make us feel even worse.
• Find a way to do Christmas in your own way – think about how you would like Christmas to be for you / your family. Introduce your own low-key traditions and find ways to be at this time that work for you and your needs.
• Use techniques to calm your nervous system – do some controlled breathing, mindfulness or meditation. There are lots of great apps to help with this (I love Insight Timer) and taking that time out really does help you to re-balance and re-connect with yourself.
• Engage in more movement and exercise – moving our bodies helps alleviate low mood and anxiety. Connect with nature, go for more walks, try gentle exercises such as yin-yoga or pump it out at the gym if that’s what your body needs.
• Seek professional help – if you are experiencing feelings such as low mood, anxiety, fear, overwhelm, anger or loneliness, speaking to a counsellor can really help. Counselling can be a short term (just a few sessions), as well as longer term option, for getting you through a difficult period.

What is counselling and how can it help?

Counselling can provide a much-needed opportunity to talk about what’s going on for you to a professional in a safe and confidential space. Talking in this way can help you order your thoughts, explore why you are feeling like you are, and find some coping strategies or even start to move on from the pain and move towards a brighter future.

You are very welcome to have a 15-minute discovery call over the phone, where you can find out more about counselling and how it might be able to help you, so you can decide if it’s the right step for you.

To find out more and book an appointment call 01256 702140.

Katie Creagh-Barry, Counsellor