Coping at Christmas 2024

Christmas is the time of year that brings people together to celebrate and reflect on what the last year has brought. Whilst the jolly season is uplifting, for some it can be a overwhelming time, so it also brings us an opportunity to reflect on ways to be there for the ones we love and nurture our own well-being so we can approach the festive period with balance and positivity.

Intec wants to support you during this season so we have some advice and guidance to support you, if Christmas for you is difficult this year.

Money Worries

It’s no secret that Christmas is unavoidably expensive, with the rising cost of living crisis adding extra strain to peoples wallets, we want to share some advice for coping with money struggles.

• Access financial support - Turn2Us benefits calculator is a terrific tool that’ll help you work out what kind of financial support you are entitled to. You can also call Trussell Trust's free helpline to access advice for financial support.
• Making lists and budgets – Noting things down and creating a financial plan for the holidays can help to make your stress manageable and feel more in control of your spending.
• Be open and talk to others – It can be hard to talk to others about financial difficulty, but opening yourself up to others can be a great way to get extra support; others may be able to offer advice or support you haven’t thought of.
• Look for local offers or events – During the holidays, many charities and communities hold low-cost events that can offer you support with things like food and gifts.
• Look for low-cost or free items online – Freecycle is a website that you can use to find free items to use as gifts or even decorations.
• Try to avoid comparisons – Christmas as seen online, on TV, or social media, is not a realistic representation of Christmas for everyone and this can make some people feel bad about the holidays.
• Be kind to yourself – Worrying about money can be severely detrimental to our mental health, it can make us feel angry, upset or even embarrassed. It’s important to not be too hard on yourself or blame yourself for your situation.

Conflict at Christmas

People often get together at Christmas but this can be difficult if you struggle with social anxiety or highlight complex relationships. Christmas can be an anxious and stressful time if you have difficult relationships . It’s helpful to know some tips and tricks to alleviate this stress.

• Set your boundaries – It is okay to say no! It is healthy practice to set boundaries so you do not feel overwhelmed and stressed.
• Take time out – If the situation is not helpful to you or those around you, remove yourself from it. Take some time away and go for a walk, meditate or listen to some music you find calming.
• Think about how to manage difficult conversations – It’s okay to tell someone when you don’t want to talk about something, or to change the subject. It might help to practice what you might say.

Loneliness, Grief and Loss

Christmas brings people together, but it can also be a painful reminder that some people might not have people to be with or have unfortunately lost someone they care about. Loneliness and loss can feel a lot deeper during the holidays so here is some advice to help you:

• Consider different ways to celebrate – Many have traditions during Christmas, and those traditions can feel hard to keep when someone you care about isn’t there with you; consider creating new traditions or you could choose to just not celebrate at all. It’s important to do what is right for you and not to feel pressured to do something you don’t want to.
• Try video calling someone who isn’t there with you – Everyone has their own circumstances to deal with and that can mean that some people won’t be around to celebrate the holidays with you. If someone you care about can’t be with you, try video calling them to catch up on Christmas, or make plans to see them after Christmas.
• Try take a break from media – Seeing the constant happiness of others during the Christmas period  can make us feel incredibly bad about ourselves and our situations, so do yourself the favour, and turn off the screens for a few hours.
• Look after yourself – The holidays are a time where a lot of people choose to celebrate by drinking; but feeling loneliness or grief can make it tempting to drink more. Remember, these things only help temporarily. If you find yourself wanting to drink more to cope, it may be time to seek some help.

Christmas is fun, but it can also be hard. Make sure to take your time, and take care of yourself and those you care about. If you, or someone you love are still struggling with mental health or circumstances, reach out and talk to someone.

Source: Mind.org

Source: Cruse.org