Be kind to your mind this Christmas

On the 5th day of Christmas Cedrec gave to me, tips to be mentally healthy.

Christmas is seen as a wonderful and happy time of year, to celebrate and catch up with family and friends. But this is not the case for all, and can sometimes be overwhelming and a struggle, for many reasons.

Christmas can affect mental health due to:

• money worries;
• grief;
• health problems;
• estrangement;
• loneliness;
• difficult situations and relationships;
• pressure to enjoy yourself;
• places being busy and overwhelming;
• expectations and pressures around food and alcohol;
• support and services being closed or reduced hours.

How to look after your mental health at Christmas

Tips to look after your mental health this Christmas include:

• be patient with yourself;
• maintain a routine;
• remind yourself it won't last forever;
• set boundaries and feel comfortable saying no to plans;
• take breaks from work and the festivities to prevent stress;
• plan ahead;
• make sure to have a healthy sleeping pattern;
• avoid comparing your Christmas to others;
• do not overspend;
• if you are feeling up to it, connect with others who you have close and positive relationships with;
• think about how to end difficult conversations;
• if you are struggling, let people know;
• get support if you need it.

How to support others at Christmas

Tips to support others at Christmas include:

• understand that Christmas means something different to other people;
• let them know you understand Christmas can be difficult;
• reassure them it is common to find things hard at this time of year;
• listen to them and accept their feelings;
• ask if there are things you can start, stop or continue doing;
• ask them if there is anything that could help them through Christmas;
• remember that no one chooses to find things hard;
• let them know you're thinking of them;
• look after yourself, as supporting someone else can be difficult.

Things to avoid include:

• making assumptions about why Christmas is difficult;
• try not to ask intrusive questions;
• do not force someone to cheer up;
• try not to take it personally if they do not want to join in;
• do not make assumptions about what people can afford.

Support

If yourself, a colleague, a friend or a family member is struggling this Christmas, and need to find support, help can be found by:

• calling Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone);
• texting SHOUT to 85258;
• calling 111 or 999 if it is an emergency;
• looking at the Useful Contacts on the MIND website.