Mental health practitioners from our multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) share tips on how to protect your wellbeing as we approach Christmas.
At St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (SPMHS), we know that, while the festive period can be a joyful time for many people, others may face significant challenges over the holidays. From dealing with bereavement following the loss of a loved one or having heightened feelings of loneliness and isolation to spending time in intense family situations, there are lots of different things which can impact our mental health and wellbeing at Christmas time.
Look after your wellbeing at Christmas
Knowing that Christmas can be a difficult time of year, members of our MDTs address some common wellbeing issues that may arise and provide some tips on how to respond to them.
Tips for easing Christmas-related stress and anxiety include being realistic: you might not have the ‘perfect’ Christmas or it might look different to other years, but you can find ways to enjoy and celebrate it. If you become overwhelmed at any point, give yourself the time to take a breather and recharge.
A lot of people experience feelings of loneliness. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, loneliness and isolation have become more prevalent in general. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the percentage of people in Ireland reporting feeling lonely all or most of the time doubled from 6.8% in April 2020 to 13.1% by February 2021. Samaritans Ireland also reports high levels of loneliness, with 35% of calls to its services in 2021 coming from people raising concerns about loneliness. Sometimes, these feelings can be more pronounced at times like Christmas. If you are managing feelings of loneliness over the season, some recommendations include:
- having a daily plan
- taking part in activities that you enjoy
- practicing self-compassion.
Remember that you are not alone in loneliness; lots of people can feel this way, including at Christmas.
Christmas can bring up lots of emotions and feelings for people who have lost loved ones. If you are grieving or dealing with bereavement, give yourself space to be both sad and joyful: it’s ok to have and recognise these different feelings.
At Christmas, we often see more of our family than at any other time, which can lead to pressure and tension. Some tactics for managing family dynamics include choosing who and what to give your energy and time to, and recognising what doesn’t serve you. It can also help to make your wants and needs clear, so that you can manage these feelings and expectations together.
For people who are experiencing difficulties relating to food or alcohol, Christmas can be a particularly trying period. It is important to protect your recovery during the festive season. Protection strategies could include:
- making plans for what you want to do
- aiming to stick to your routines as much as possible
- saying no to things that you feel might affect your recovery
- using everyday tools that work for you, such as meditation or daily walks.
Seek support if you need it
Speaking about ways to foster positive mental health over Christmas, our Chief Executive Officer here at SPMHS, Paul Gilligan, said:
“If you are finding the festive period difficult to manage, speak to a trusted friend or family member and let them know how you’re feeling. By reaching out to someone, this can ease any underlying pressure to behave in a certain way or feel a certain way just because it’s Christmas."
"It is also important to remember that, no matter the time of year, support is always available; whether that means talking to your GP, calling a phone line, confiding in a family member or seeking other supports. Be confident about your own resilience, remembering that seeking help and being honest about how we feel is often the doorway to tapping into our inner resilience.”
If you need some help for your mental health at Christmas, there are supports and services available. You can contact our Support and Information Line from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), by calling 01 249 3333 or emailing info@stpatsmail.com.
You can also get in touch with the organisations below:
- Alcoholics Anonymous | Call 01 842 0700
- Aware | Call 1800 80 48 48 | Email supportmail@aware.ie
- Bodywhys | Call 01 210 7906
- Health Service Executive | Call 1800 111 888
- Pieta | Call 1800 247 247
- Samaritans | Call 116 123 | Email jo@samaritans.org.
