The Holidays are often thought of to be the happiest time of the year, but for many it can be a trigger for anxiety and depression. This year especially has been very hard on many due to the impact of COVID-19. I spoke with Jacob Kiper, Matthew 25's LPCC, about ways that we are affected during the holidays as well as coping mechanisms that you can put to practice this season!
What are the most common things people struggle with the most (mentally) during the holidays?
"The holidays are a time of fun and love for lots of people. However, the holidays can be a time of great stress and sadness as well. Time with family can be a mixed bag of emotions. If we don’t have family nearby or still with us, it can be hard to be alone as we watch others be with their families. Likewise, being with family all under one roof can sometimes be stressful and tense. I also think the idea of perfection can be tough. The holidays are definitely not a slow pace. Holidays are often filled with lots of hustle and bustle that are far from relaxing. We’re so focused on travel, decorating, and getting all of the shopping done for everyone that we often feel stressed. The holiday schedule can wear on your mind. We get so focused on doing for everyone else that we forget to take time to do for ourselves. Another big factor is the realization that after the holidays are over, the debt we built is still coming. It’s fun to travel and buy, but then we know the bills are coming… and we stress."
What are some simple coping mechanisms/ tools someone could implement to help ease anxiety and or depression?
"How do we handle holiday depression and anxiety? It starts with taking care of ourselves. It’s easy to eat lots of junk food during this time of year, but what we put into our bodies absolutely impacts our moods. Absolutely enjoy the holiday treats, but do so in moderation. If we load up on sugar, we’ll also experience the crash. Make it a point to feed your body with healthy food and you’ll be rewarded with a better mood. Physical exercise helps too. That doesn’t mean you need to go to the gym, but it does mean getting up off the couch for a bit each day. It’s getting cold outside, but throw on a jacket and go for a walk. You don’t need to do push-ups or lift weights to give your body some amount of exercise. Also, as mentioned earlier… talking to people helps combat isolation. Pick up the phone and call someone. I’d also suggest a good sleep schedule. It’s fun to stay up late, but our body feels better when we at least attempt to get 8 hours of sleep at night. Finally, don’t forget that music has the ability to greatly control our moods. Be sure to listen to music that makes you feel happy. If whatever you have on the radio doesn’t make you feel good, change the channel. Be sure to keep music on that lifts your mood. I personally find that Christmas music lifts my mood, so I keep it playing around the house and in my car pretty regularly this time of year."
What advice would you give someone who can’t be with their family this holiday season due to COVID-19?
"Christmas 2020 is definitely a unique year for family gatherings. I encourage you to reach out to family via phone as often as possible. Even if you don’t feel comfortable seeing family in person, a good phone call is always helpful. Thankfully, we live in an age of technology where virtually reaching out has never been easier. We live in a world where video chatting is now readily available through many outlets. I’d also recommend a throwback to years ago in writing letters. Technology and phones are great, but do you recall how it felt to receive the last handwritten letter you received? Seriously? How long ago has that been? Receiving handwritten letters are still fun. I suggest you try writing letters to your family this holiday season and actually dropping them in the mail. You’ll enjoy it. They’ll appreciate it."
The Holidays affect everyone differently. We hope with this article that you find comfort in knowing that it is okay to not feel okay during the Christmas Season. But, that there are also ways to cope! And it all starts with just a little self care. Christmas 2020 is going to look a lot different this year but just know if you feel overwhelmed there is a new year on the horizon.
From all of us at Matthew 25 we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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