By Jennifer Fiorillo
Mental Health
Jennifer Fiorillo
The season of giving and spending time with loved ones is upon us, and with that comes a complex mix of emotions from joy and connection to stress, anxiety and depression. With finances being an issue for so many due to inflation, 68 percent of Americans expect that their stress levels will worsen from holiday spending. Forty-nine percent are feeling burdened by expectations set by family members and friends, and nearly 40 percent find holiday family gatherings stressful.
Many also grieve the loss of loved ones during this time of year, which contributes to symptoms of depression. A poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association in November 2021 found that being able to find and afford gifts (40 percent and 46 percent) and contracting COVID-19 (38 percent) were rated at the top of concerns contributing to stress over the holidays.
So how do we manage through the holiday season and get the most out of our time with family and friends? How do we help to balance the hustle bustle with peace, gratitude and joy?
The National Alliance for Mental Illness offers strategies to cope during the busy holiday season. These include setting boundaries and allowing yourself to say no if demands become too unmanageable, connecting with yourself and allowing for quiet time and reflection, maintaining some of your day-to-day healthy habits despite the indulgence holidays often bring, and accepting the range of emotions that come at you during the season. The choice to prioritize yourself throughout all of the preparation, running around and spending money will be key to staying grounded, making it easier to push through the stress and demands.
The holidays don’t always need to be perfect. Circumstances change that may require a shift in how we celebrate during the season. There is always room to pare it down, meet with family virtually and be more realistic about what we expect to accomplish. Sticking to a budget and planning ahead helps to prevent overwhelming our finances and our lives. There is power in simplifying that opens up more space for quality time with friends and loved ones and ourselves, and it will reduce the exhaustion that prevents many of us from truly enjoying the festivities.
Finally, not being afraid to reach out for help during the holidays is the biggest gift we could give to ourselves. If you are wide awake at night and overwhelmed about everything that needs to get done, if you’re becoming more irritable and can’t seem to shake the holiday blues, it might be time to seek professional help to get you through the season.
Often we lose sight of what the holidays means with everything we take on to please others. Self-care should be at the top of the list during the season so that we can be the best to ourselves and those who share in celebration.
Jennifer Fiorillo, MBA, MPH is the president and CEO of Bridges Healthcare in Milford, and may be reached at Jfiorillo@bridgesmilford.org.