Christmas and mental health

~Christmas….a season that strikes fear in the hearts of the most vulnerable
sometimes months in advance of the actual holidays. For some members of our
fractured society, it is most decidedly NOT “the most wonderful time of the year”.
This is a topic very dear to my heart as I am passionate about inclusion and
representing a different view of the norm. I have had some of the worst possible
times in my life over this honey trap of a holiday.

~I’d like to explain and share my own experiences in the hope of perhaps giving one
person a sense of not being alone in how they are feeling.

~There are countless reasons why Christmas is a particularly hard and frankly
dangerous time of year: addiction; exacerbation of mental health symptoms; neuro
diversity; poverty; estrangement; loneliness; isolation; physical health; domestic
violence; missing loved ones. Everything is heightened at Christmas- the adverts are
that bit shinier; the food is that bit more enticing and expensive; the pressure screws
are tightened and the idea of where we are in our lives in presented under a
microscope. The hardest part is that these factors mean that we, who struggle, are in
direct opposition to the prevailing societal narrative.

~I have complex needs as I manage a variety of mental and physical health
conditions. My biggest struggles are the critical voices in my head and how to
manage my emotions. These struggles show up in the form of amplified comparisons
I make in my head; drastic change in routine; added tasks; and complex family
relations. As someone who just about keeps afloat in daily life, this explosion of extra
tasks in the form of buying, wrapping; sending cards; change in food / menus/ meals;
different interactions; is about as welcome as overcooked sprouts left hanging
around for a day or two!!

~There seem to be so many potential pits to fall in to: entering into a comparison with
others; trying to force ourselves into pretending/ masking; swallowing or being gas lit
around our ACTUAL reality.

It seems to me that the antidote is to flip every on its head and go into turbo drive of
looking after myself. Over the many years of living with this particular body and mind,
I have slowly become more and more accepting of myself and my situation. As I
write this on the day before Christmas Eve, I have at this very moment a choice. Do I
obey my old patterns and rush around and fulfil the things I “ought” to have done OR
do I listen to a tiny voice inside that says “look after yourself first”? Today, thanks to
a lot of inner work and my supportive community, I choose the 2nd voice. Even if the
change is microscopic, it is one step towards a calmer, gentler life. We, at NUTS
wish that you simply get through and take care of yourselves at this strange spell.

I wanted to end this piece by sharing a few resources if you are
struggling during this time of year.

IF IN CRISIS
SAMARITANS
tel:+44-116-123
[email protected]

NHS- can call 111 and ask for mental health support
tel:+44-111
https://111.nhs.uk/

Extra help
Those bereaved by suicide
[email protected]
https://uksobs.org/

Those whose family are estranged:
https://www.standalone.org.uk/

SHOUT
https://www.giveusashout.org/
sms:85258