I read something on Twitter earlier today that said, “Mental illness doesn’t take a holiday break.” And this could not be more true. Holidays always seem to be stressful. Between entertaining family and friends, cooking big holiday meals, shopping for those gifts that will be used for a few months then tossed to the side and forgotten about (even though you waited in long lines on Black Friday just to make sure you got just the right ones). Not to mention, the house needs to be clean all the time and decorated so perfectly that it looks like a set design from one those wonderfully romantic Hallmark Movies. And if you’re a parent, it seems to be even more stressful. I have no idea why, but kids seem to test their parents patience even more when December 1st comes. And Christmas break! Christmas break always comes just as parents get more busy trying to tie together all of the loose ends, shop for those last-minute gifts, double checking that everything is bought and prepared for Christmas dinner, and wrapping gifts.
At the end of the day we are all so exhausted yet we feel like nothing was accomplished. And if you’re like me, this sends your anxiety through the roof. You have no idea how everything is going to get done in time. You no longer wonder why everyone in the stores are so cranky. However, it is the holidays, so shouldn’t they be filled with joy? So you vow not to be a Scrooge like the person in front of you. But the lady who is checking out your purchases is still holding bitterness from the customer that she rang up earlier in the day; so she takes that frustration and anger out on you. And what about those gifts that you just bought and wrapped, are they going to be liked by those who will be receiving them? Is the meal going to be cooked perfectly? Are those judgemental family members that you only see for the holidays going to cast more judgement and unwanted opinions like they do every year?
All of those thoughts sink you into such a deep depression that it feels like it’s suffocating you. Mornings feel like they are coming earlier and earlier. The little things that once didn’t bother you at all start to make your thoughts race and your heart beat faster. Or maybe you’re like me. Maybe you just stop caring about those fine details or any details. Your attitude and overall demeanor changes. You want to be left alone to lay in bed all day while the rest of the world continues with their Christmas traditions. You just stop caring. At least that’s what you tell yourself. If you don’t care then you won’t be stressed or overwhelmed with the holidays, right? But you do care. You and I both know that you do. Which is why you’d rather be laying in bed because avoidance has seemed to work for you in the past.
But your mental health doesn’t have to suffer any more than normal just because of the holidays. Actually, we need to be more mindful this time of year when it comes to our mental health. We’ve all been told that Christmas is the season for giving; the season for being extra thoughtful, charitable and kind. And we should be! But this is also the season to be a little selfish too. Now, I don’t mean that we should be materialistically selfish. We need to be selfish in a way that allows us to decompress. Unwind after the holiday hustle and bustle.
So go take that hot bath. Take an extra long hot shower. Snuggle up under a blanket and get lost in a book. Make time for YOU. Do things that make you happy and make you feel special. And most importantly let yourself feel. Don’t run from what you’re feeling. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, mood swings, they are all scary and sometimes crippling; and it’s can be easy to think that you can run from them successfully. But letting yourself feel exactly what you’re feeling and then following it up with some self-care… this is how you can make sure to take that extra care for your mental health.
I know this is easier said then done. I know that it can be hard to find time to pee let alone practice self-care. I know this because I live this. Which is why I know how important it is to take the extra effort to care for your mental health during those extra stressful and/or triggering times. Your mental health, your mental illnesses, they don’t take a Christmas vacation. So make sure you try to gift yourself some time for self-care. You will appreciate it later.
Beautifully Chaotic 