Holidays are on the way and with it there is additional pressure to get together, give gifts and make merry. Here are a few tips from CAMH to take back the holidays and manage stress and anxiety during the festivities on your terms.
Keep it on the down-low –
Ask yourself what you love, don’t love or even hate about the holidays? Now choose to do what you love! Don’t let your—or anybody else’s—traditions dictate how and if you celebrate.
It is easy to indulge -
Overindulging in drinks, food and gifts is fun in the moment but tends to come back to bite us with a headache, stomach-ache or even skyrocketing VISA bill in the New Year. Live in the moment butcognizant of the consequences.
Try zebra-striping – alternating alcohol with non-alcohol options. Take the greens over the gravy and Goodwill over grand gestures for more green in your bank account and for a greener planet.
Host with the most --
Many find being a host stressful and/or find it hard to refuse. To help relieve the stress, try potluck and bring your own options, delegate the turkey or other time intensive tasks or ask someone else to take a turn at playing host.
Too much togetherness –
Mandatory family and friend fun at holiday festivities can be a pressure cooker for those with depression or social anxiety. Find a strategy that works for you, like a quiet spot to take a time out, putting a limit on together time (make an excuse and make an exit) or if best for you, decline the invitation.
Isolation --
Life is truly a balancing act as those with social anxiety can often feel isolated. If you are isolated by choice or by circumstance, the holidays can be difficult. Time for some self-care and something special like a favourite meal or movie. Trying volunteering, by helping others, you also boost your own mental health and have a chance to connect with other people. Help out at a foodbank, serve holiday dinner at a community centre or offer to get groceries or spend some time with someone who’s alone and doesn’t want to be.
According to the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance over half of Canada’s farmers report they suffer from anxiety—that’s almost 10 times higher than Canada’s labour market. Twenty-five percent of farmers reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in the past year.
If you are looking for assistance, please click here for a list of national and regional mental health resources geared to farmers and ag industry participants.
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