Managing Your Mental Health This Holiday Season

No matter what holiday you’re celebrating this season, the odds are you have a few events and gatherings to navigate. Regardless of the circumstances, challenges to how you cope might arise.

You’re not alone — 89% of adults in the United States feel that the holidays negatively impact their mental health.

If you’re among the 21 million adults in the US who have depression, the nearly 40 million adults with an anxiety disorder, or you have another mental health issue, the team of mental health experts at Quandary Peak Counseling offers the following coping strategies.

1. Be prepared with a plan

Many clients come to see us before the holidays so we can help create a plan to prioritize their mental health through the holidays.

 We may discuss how to keep boundaries in place and why safe spaces and timeouts are important. While we tailor a plan to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances, the following four tips outline some of what we may discuss.

2. Have an out

Holiday events can be long, and you might be worried about feeling trapped and having to put on a brave face for hours on end. It can be good to connect with family and friends over the holidays, but you can also excuse yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

If you head into an event knowing you can escape anytime, it can help you relax.

3. Be upfront and honest

If you’re having a tough time with your mental health and you’re worried about the holidays, let your family and friends know in advance. Trying to navigate festive times while hiding how you’re feeling is exhausting and increases the likelihood that you’ll encounter situations you’re worried about. So, quietly let those closest to you know you’re not feeling 100%, but you’ll do your best.

That way, you have some support and understanding as you head into the holidays.

4. Get moving

“Move a muscle, change a thought” is an excellent holiday practice. The effects that going for a walk can have on your mental health are substantial. So, get out for a bit of exercise before your gathering or suggest a group outing during the celebration. After all, everyone can benefit mentally and physically from a little after-dinner walk around the neighborhood. 

5. Have a Self-Care Plan Prepared and Use It

Everyone has or can develop a practice that helps relieve stress or increase resilience in the face of adversity. Some practice mindfulness or meditate, engage in deep breathing or breathwork, or become engrossed in a great book, to name a few. If you don’t already have a practice that helps you self-soothe, this may be a great time to consider one. If you already have one, consider ways of implementing it when the going gets tough.

If you’d like more ideas for taking care of your mental health through the holidays or want to come to see us to put together a plan, please call our office in Denver, Colorado or request an appointment online today.