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For some people, Christmas may be a mixed bag of emotions. Christmas is a joyful time of year for some people, but Christmas may be a mixed bag of emotions. Christmas is a joyful time of year, but it can also bring Christmas stress and encourage actions that aren’t necessarily great for your mental well-being.

Let’s get one thing straight: We all need a traditional Christmas that doesn’t cause us to get hurt or remind us of the loved ones we lost.

You know, a magical one with carefully chosen presents piled up around the Christmas tree and loved ones reflecting lovingly and being grateful towards the year that passed.

Not the ones in which your brother contracts a terrible cold. Or when your sister insensitively gives you the gift you gave her last year. Or one that makes your father regret the personal injuries he suffered during Christmas 2021.

Christmas is typically a time when we extend generosity and goodwill to others. But how can one pour from an empty cup? We must strike a balance between our well-being and those of others

christmas stress

Thus, this blog will look into Christmas stress and how we become emotionally sensitive if trauma is backing our past. We will also look into how Christmas may lead to personal injury and how one can manage and look after their mental well-being during this festive season. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.

Christmas Stress: Whats, Whys, and Self-Care Tips

For Christmas to truly be “the best time of the year,” taking care of our mental health needs to be at the top of our list of priorities every year. Even though we may have time off from work, pressure to buy gifts for family and friends, host a holiday gathering, or participate in celebrations even if you are not religious might take the place of that work stress.

For some, it may become a cause of stress, given this time of year is defined mainly by the presumption that there would be several joyful family get-togethers and sufficient financial resources to support extravagant holiday celebrations.

It’s time to embrace the truth and, the truth is that Christmas may not be your normal season of gatherings, parties, and gifts. And even if it is, it can still be emotionally taxing, financially challenging, and may cost us our mental well-being.

christmas stress

Christmas Stress is frequently brought on by:

  1. Financial stress
  2. Family disputes
  3. Loneliness depression
  4. Intensified emotional baggage
  5. Social anxiety and fatigue
  6. Personal injury trauma
  7. Bereavement and grief

Knowing how all the tensions and strains affect our mental health around Christmas may be helpful if we really know and manage everything the holiday season has to offer. And how working on our mental well-being during this time could be aided by some self-care.

Let’s discuss the causes of Christmas stress in detail followed by how one can cope with it without having to sacrifice their mental well-being.

Financial Stress

The joyful holiday spirit includes preparing the house for Christmas and purchasing gifts for our loved ones. However, rather than being enjoyable, holiday shopping is a cause of stress for millions of UK homes. Instead of peace of mind, the Christmas spirit is more about tension and anxiety about the presents and decorations.

Shopping for Christmas shouldn’t be done at the expense of one’s well-being or financial stability. The following financial tactics can assist you in becoming more organised and striking a balance between enjoyment and necessity if you’re feeling overburdened:

  1. Make a budget and follow it
  2. Avoid falling into the trap of overspending
  3. Utilise seasonal discounts and deals
  4. Be creative and suggest home-made gifts
  5. Speak with an expert if you’re feeling overwhelmed
Financial Stability

Family Disputes

The joyful holiday spirit includes preparing the house for Christmas and purchasing gifts for our loved ones. However, rather than being enjoyable, holiday shopping is a cause of stress for millions of UK homes. Instead of peace of mind, the Christmas spirit is more about tension and anxiety about the presents and decorations.

Shopping for Christmas shouldn’t be done at the expense of one’s well-being or financial stability. The following financial tactics can assist you in becoming more organised and striking a balance between enjoyment and necessity if you’re feeling overburdened:

  1. Make a budget and follow it
  2. Avoid falling into the trap of overspending
  3. Utilise seasonal discounts and deals
  4. Be creative and suggest home-made gifts
  5. Speak with an expert if you’re feeling overwhelmed
Financial Stability

Loneliness Depression

Social media and the expectation that we must have a fantastic time during the holidays fuel many social pressures that can result in a feeling of emptiness or loneliness. Even without being alone, we can experience these emotions.

Despite being surrounded by others, a Mental Health.org survey shows 53% of males report feeling lonely over the holiday season. If you don’t try to address your loneliness, it could become a more significant issue or a sign of a mental health problem. To deal with how you’re feeling, you can follow some self-care techniques for loneliness. Here are some suggestions:

  1. Enlist five things that you are grateful for in your life
  2. Volunteering in the community, shelter homes, etc.
  3. Interact with people (not on social media)
  4. Avoid comparison with others on social media
  5. Find a listening ear if you’re feeling overwhelmed
Loneliness

Intensified Emotional Baggage

Everybody has emotional baggage and vulnerable areas, and we all experience emotional high points in our lives that are inextricably linked to our past. It can be more practical to leave your emotional suitcase at home, in the car, or outside the door rather than bring it to your family gathering if you still need to unpack yours.

Everyone will suffer if past wrongs and judgments are brought to the Christmas table. Remember that it is the season of giving; therefore, we should also give our partner and other family members a vacation from our demands and recollections of their purported reservations. Here are some suggestions on how to handle this baggage:

  1. Make someone else’s Christmas merry
  2. Go back to the meaning of Christmas
  3. Create your New Year’s resolution list
  4. Engage in the old holiday traditions
  5. Take good care of yourself and talk to an expert
mental wellbeing

Social Anxiety and Fatigue

Christmas is often referred to as the most magical year, but it may also feel intimidating and overwhelming for people who struggle with social anxiety. Since it’s the holiday season, there are higher expectations for socialising. However, someone with social anxiety may find it challenging to attend work parties, family gatherings, and even small get-togethers with friends.

In the UK, one in four persons experiences anxiety before social gatherings around the holidays. 19% of employees have feigned to be sick to skip the office Christmas party.

Additionally, the types of individuals we connect with throughout the holiday season may impact how social anxiety affects us. Meeting new people and perhaps even seeing distant relatives can be particularly challenging for some people. Some helpful tips for people with social anxiety are as follows:

    1. Plan ahead as much as you can
    2. Be aware of your escape routes
    3. Decrease your alcohol intake
    4. Try to go for a walk outside
    5. Arrange a call with a friend
mental wellbeing

Personal Injury Trauma

Some of the best memories of the year are from the Christmas season. You have plenty of time to enjoy it with the ones you care about. And amid this enjoyment, accidents do happen, though, and they frequently do so without warning.Businesses are open, and many individuals travel to their homes for the holidays. There is a greater likelihood of encountering an accident in this flurry of activity, which could result in severe traumatic injuries. The following are a few injuries that frequently occur over the holiday season:

1. Slips, Trips, and Falls can result in minor scrapes to severe injuries, necessitating one to seek care from their insurance provider. If your job requires heavy lifting, your risk of personal injury is relatively significant.

2. Road Traffic Accidents, a frequent cause of personal injuries during Christmas, can even result in fatalities. Even if you are driving carefully and in compliance with all laws and regulations, another driver may crash his car into yours, seriously injuring you.

mental wellbeing

3. Christmas Tree Ornaments and lights falling on someone may also result in personal injury. Due to the complexity of the procedure and the need for several machines, people who work in the Christmas tree installation industry are at risk for significant injuries.

4. Burn Injuries happen rather frequently throughout the holiday season due to housing disrepair. The accidents can have been caused by using heaters, stoves, or even candles, and electrical fires may cause severe human injury.

5. Pedestrian Accidents pose a severe risk, especially for children and the elderly, whether walking to your neighbor’s house down the street or strolling in the supermarket parking lot.

Who should I contact if I get hurt over the holidays? Managing a personal injury can be difficult. Feel free to contact us if you suffer from a personal injury that was not your fault!

Bereavement and Grief

The idea of celebrating Christmas can be extremely overwhelming when you’re mourning. Finding the perfect way to celebrate might be especially challenging for people who need to spare themselves from the loss and enjoy festivities. Thus, throughout the season, taking care of yourself and figuring out your best coping mechanisms is critical.

No matter how long ago they passed away or if this is your first Christmas without them, you might notice that your sadness is more severe during the holiday season. Here’s how to deal with melancholy, rage, depression or any other emotion that comes up during this period if you’re having trouble with it:

    1. Find methods to commemorate them and new ways to celebrate them
    2. Recognise that everyone grieves differently, and do not walk over others
    3. Avoid watching holiday movies and TV, and consider taking care of yourself
    4. Set boundaries and communicate your time-use preferences to others
    5. Be kind to yourself and seek assistance if you feel you require it

This Year, Let’s Make the Holidays Less Stressful??

Give us a Phone Call or Contact Us to get the RIGHT Help.

Prioritise your Mental Health.

Give us a Phone Call or Contact Us from getting the RIGHT Help.

Prioritise your Mental Health.

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