December 21, 2021

We all know Christmas can be filled with joy and happiness, but it can also be very stressful and challenging for people impacted by mental illness.

We have found 11 Steps to help deal with Christmas and maintain your sanity:

• Stay Safe but Not Alone

When you’re feeling vulnerable with your social circle, it can be tempting to stay home and avoid any potential discomfort. However remaining isolated only pleasures oneself while sacrificing their loved ones who might need time together in order to accomplish something meaningful or important for both parties involved- such as a Christmas Party! The key here is not how many people are around but rather making sure the ones who do come over know what kind of environment they’ll find themselves within. So there isn’t much uncertainty about where things stands. Be Happy, Don’t be alone.

• Find What You Need

Take care of your emotional and physical well-being by being kind to yourself. Recognize what triggers make you feel stressed, then take steps to avoid or cope with those things so they don’t trigger a negative response in the future.
If shopping for holiday gifts is too stressful try not doing it at all! But if that doesn’t work – know there are plenty more options out on stores like Amazon where we can find great presents without having spend an arm & leg (literally).

• Don’t try to do too much

Prioritize your time and activities to make the most of it. A schedule will help you feel less overwhelmed by everyday tasks, deadlines or plans that don’t fit into what’s available in terms of scheduling flexibility (or lack thereof). It’s perfectly okay if certain commitments don’t fit into this type or arrangement – say no when something doesn’t line up right (even though they may be tempting).

• Be Realistic

The commercials that show people having the perfect life before a pandemic have been shown time and time again but for lots of people it isn’t the reality. People often struggle with one thing or another, it just happens sometimes– we can’t always find gifts for loved ones and it’s OKAY.

• Exercise

If you find yourself stressed out more often than not, it might be a good idea to take some time for fun. Engage in an activity that makes your heart happy and bends those muscles! The release of stress-relieving hormones helps improve overall physical health while deep breathing has calming effects on the mind (and soul).

• Take Time for Yourself (self-care)

Schedule time for activities that make you feel good. It might be reading a book, going on an adventure with friends or family members (like taking your dog out), listening to music from artists who inspire and motivate us– even if they are not well-known yet! This is important because it provides some much needed self care in between all of the awesome things we do throughout our lives here at work so when life finally slows down again after crazy hectic days filled with deadlines and meetings we can relax just like this article suggests by saying “it’s okay” rather than being overwhelmed thinking ‘I don’t know where I’ll find five hours every day.

• Eat well

The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it can also be challenging to maintain your health. Try making sure you eat well and don’t overdo the sugar-filled treats this year! Eating fresh produce will help keep moods stable while whole grains provide energy without all of those pesky spikes associated with processed foods like white bread or fast food French fries (yikes). So whether its at home with friends & family celebrating Christmas dinner; out on an evening stroll after grabbing some groceries beforehand—enjoy every moment because memories are made best when shared amongst loved ones.

• Sleep

Symptoms of some mental health conditions, like mania in bipolar disorder, can be triggered by getting too little sleep. Go to SLEEP!

• Go Slow on the Booze

Alcohol and drugs generally don’t reduce stress, they often worsen it. When people are addicted to substances like alcohol and drugs, their body goes into a state of panic. This often leads them feeling stressed out or on edge which is not what you want if your goal is relaxation!
What should You do? Educate yourself about the dangers of these types addictions before it gets too late. Get help now so that one day soon will be able enjoy life without worrying about it.

• Spend time Outside

Taking time to enjoy the great outdoors is essential for your mental health. Studies show that spending some quality one on ones with nature can help reduce stress and improve moods, so don’t forget about this when celebrating during a holiday gathering!

• Keep Up and/or Seek Therapy

If you find yourself overcome with stress, it might be time to seek professional help. Your therapist can pinpoint specific events that trigger your emotions and provide a plan of action so they don’t continue overwhelming.

Overall stay safe surrounded by your loved one while eating good food.

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Categorized in: mental health, Productivity, Science