As we head towards the middle of December, those of us who choose to celebrate Christmas in the UK are faced with making adjustments to the way we spend our time with friends and family during the holidays this year.
Due to the Tier 2 Coronavirus restrictions, many traditional events such as parties, Carol singing, busy Christmas Markets and large family gatherings are unable to go ahead.
For many people this time of year has always been difficult, a YouGov survey last December found that over two in five Britons felt stressed during the festive season, while about one in four has struggled with anxiety and depression*
The Mental Health Charity Mind** has identified the issues affecting people more so this year with the impact of the Coronavirus during 2020:
- Bereavement for loved ones
- Grief or disappointment for lost experiences
- Frustration or feeling overlooked
- Pressure and expectations
- Stress and money worries
- Wishing you could skip Christmas
- Loneliness and Isolation
If you are experiencing any of these feelings it is ok to feel this way. There are lots of thing you can do to take care of your mental wellbeing**:
- Make a plan for your Christmas – decide if you want to put up decorations, when your Christmas will start and finish, and which traditions you’d like to preserve
- Try festive wellbeing activities – go for a walk, connect with people by letter or email, learn something new
- Preserve and adapt traditions – for example watch carols on tv instead of a live concert.
- Pause or postpone events – Plan to celebrate next year or in the summer.
- Part ways with things you don’t enjoy – If you enjoy a quieter Christmas, give yourself permission to do the same next year.
- Be mindful of other people – be supportive of others who may not celebrate Christmas, and talk to others about how you are feeling.
Two in five people say their mental health improves over Christmas*, it may help you to focus on what you enjoy about the season rather than what you are missing. You may also decide not to celebrate Christmas this year, and this is ok too.
If you feel you could benefit from additional support over the Christmas period, many of The Eaves Counsellors and Psychologists are available to offer appointments during this time. Please call 01483 917000 to speak to a member of the referrals team.
You can also send us an enquiry. Click here to find out more.