Coping with the Festive Season

It’s December already?

It seems to be the case every year that December creeps up on us faster than we realise. Although it can bring in the “festive season”, Christmas and New Year can also be a difficult period and trigger off strong feelings for some.

It can be a time where pressures are high - the pressure to reconnect with family, to wrap up projects before the end of the year, and the stress from competing demands between work and family. It can bring in thoughts of another year gone by, remind us of loved ones who have passed on, and reignite family tensions. The pressures combined, the end of the year can trigger feelings of anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness and despair for some. And you’re not alone.

When we’re feeling low, it can be tempting to withdraw and pull away from our supports. Reaching out to supportive friends, family and professionals can halt the spiral of feeling even more isolated from others.

For some, this Christmas may be different to the years before, maybe because of memories of losing someone close the past year, changed family dynamics or strained relationships. It can take some time to re-establish new traditions, and it can be helpful to remind ourselves to be gentle with ourselves as we navigate the changes that may come.

For others, the social demands of the festive season can present other pressures. It is also important to take note of healthy boundaries and for self-care as need be. There can be pressures to be giving in the spirit of Christmas, and for the Self-Sacrificers amongst us, we can find ourselves stretched financially and emotionally. It can be healthy to remind ourselves that it’s ok to decline invitations, to say no to family, or to dial back the extent of gifts and Christmas meal planning. It can be helpful to take a good look at the guilt that may come with it and reset healthy boundaries and expectations.

The end of the year can be stressful if we expect it to be the way that it isn’t. It may have been a year of much work through therapy, and the end of the year can present challenges that puts those moments of growth to its test. It is important to be gentle with ourselves in the same way that it’s often easier to be gentle with others.

And with that, a gentle reminder to extend compassion towards yourself and others. Take care, no matter what the end of the year brings.

Where to get help:

Your GP (doctor)

Financial planner

GriefLine: (03) 9935 7400

BeyondBlue: 1300 22 4636