Coping with any mental disorder basically means handling the challenges, perceived stigma, shame, and stress that comes with the hassles of such illness, managing such health issues can be stressful for the patient, loved ones and acquaintances. Information about the disorder is an important coping resource as sound insight helps the sufferer and family to effectively go through this period.
Depression as we know is a common mental health problem that negatively affects how we feel, think and act. The soothing thing about this mental disorder is that it is treatable. The associated feelings during depression is sadness, and/or loss of interest in pleasurable activities one often enjoys, this particular act often lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease one’s ability to function especially during the bustle of a festive season. Around the festive period it can be overwhelming for the sufferer to relate – play – participate in family and social gatherings, which in turn become challenging for family and friends.
During holidays the possibilities of depressive symptoms especially in people with past history are higher. They seem to be out of sync with others before and not aligning with the rest of the world prior to the holidays. Then everyone else seems to be happy, beaming with joy, probably buying and selling things, bursting with holiday spirit. While the sufferer is most probably feeling wretched and exhausted.
Therefore, if family gatherings, religious events, the endless parties, and the celebrations get you down and make you feel worse off, you’re hardly alone. Studies have shown that even people who do not have a diagnosis of depression feel low during the holidays because we often think in our head that we are at the end of another cycle of living and we evaluate the things we have done in a year, ask ourselves if we have made positive additions, failures, etc. Some people start evaluating their lives with their expectations of themselves or even the successes of others. But people with depression – or who have had depression previously need to be more careful when coping with holiday stress. While it might take some conscious effort on your part, you can reduce stress and maybe even find some holiday joy, too. Here are some tips.
Finding the holiday spirit: Emotions
1. Keep your expectations modest. Don’t get hung up on what the holidays are supposed to be like – be actually realistic and stop comparing your living with what you see on social media or imaginary ideals. Worry less about holiday spirit but live through the holidays as they come.
2. Force yourself to do something different. During this festivity change your routine. Don’t surrender to the usual routine fill your holiday with rather with new experiences by trying something different. Have holiday meal at a restaurant than strenuous cooking at home. Spend Christmas day at the movie theater. Get your family to agree to skip gifts and instead donate the money to a charity even can visit a local orphanage.
3. Lean on your support system. If you’ve been depressed, you need a network of close friends and family to turn to when things get tough. So during the holidays, take time to get together with your support team regularly — or at least keep in touch by phone to keep yourself centered.
Your therapist is part of your support system. At DAIMONDMOOR we care and we are ready to offer help in seeing your mental health well managed and handled professionally at this period, please contact us, [email protected], 081 2827 6962, +234 2291 4084.
Season’s Greetings!!!