Festive Struggles
'December' 'Christmas' 'The winter season' - Do you look forward to this time of year? Do you celebrate Christmas? What typically comes up for you at this time of the year?
Maybe you look forward to the festive season, or maybe you dread it. It's hard to escape the commercialised industry. It's everywhere. It's in the shops, TV adverts, radio, schools, work and the local community. It's just everywhere!
It's 'supposed' to be ''the most wonderful time of the year'' according to Nat King Cole 😂; however, for some, it is highly stressful and can often trigger thoughts of loss and grief. It also can trigger thoughts and feelings of mental health and poverty.
Are you struggling with mental health and/or other difficulties at this time of year? Or do you know someone who is struggling? Maybe you're a carer and are suffering burnout.
Have you ever experienced loss or bereavement? It doesn't have to be the loss we often relate to, namely the loss of a loved one. It could be the loss of your job, home, identity or freedom. The list goes on..
Did you know... Almost a million older people feel lonelier at Christmas (Age UK, 2017), 36% of people with mental health have self-harmed to cope with the stress of Christmas (Mind, 2015), one in three adults suffer 'festive burnout' (Study Finds, 2018) and 111 children are bereaved of a parent every day in the UK (Child Bereavement UK, 2016).
For me personally, I know the importance of taking extra care at this time of the year. To ensure I have enough time to self-care. Not just dealing with the practical stuff in life. It's important to understand how our feelings shape our ability to deal with situations and also impact our daily decision-making.
Remember that it is important to think about yourself during this time of the year. You are important & worth taking the time out to focus on YOU.
Here are some of my tips to help you during this festive period;
Focus on YOU. Take time to self-care and do what you enjoy (There is a page about self-care >>here<< ).
Do what feels right for you. There's no right or wrong way to celebrate the festive season. Don't overload yourself. It's OK to say no or do what's right for you. For example, if you don't want to go to a gathering or party for 3 hours, instead say '' I'll come along for an hour''.
Accept & Acknowledge your feelings. It's OK to feel frustrated or angry just as it's OK to feel happy. Be gentle on yourself, show yourself compassion and don't set unrealistic expectations for yourself.
Talk about how you feel. Talk to your family, friends or a counsellor about how you're feeling around this time of year.
Talking is an important part of processing our emotions to prevent emotional burnout. If you need to talk to a counsellor, contact Relational Counselling on 07456 016686 today.
References
Ageuk.org.uk (2019) Almost a million older people feel lonelier at Christmas. [online] Available at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-news/articles/2017/december/almost-a-million-older-people-feel-lonelier-at-christmas/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2019].
Childbereavementuk.org (2016) Death bereavement statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/death-bereavement-statistics [Accessed 20 Dec 2019].
Mind.org.uk (2015) Mind warns that people with mental health problems struggle with self-harm and suicidal feelings due to the pressure of Christmas. [online] Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/mind-warns-that-people-with-mental-health-problems-struggle-with-self-harm-and-suicidal-feelings-due-to-the-pressure-of-christmas/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2019].
Study Finds (2018) Holi-dazed: 1 in 3 Adults Already Suffering From ‘Holiday Burnout’. [online] Available at: https://www.studyfinds.org/holi-dazed-1-in-3-adults-already-suffering-from-holiday-burnout/[Accessed 20 Dec. 2019].