Tips for coping with Christmas pressures

For those who might be feeling anxious about money or overwhelmed by family dynamics, instead of enjoying Christmas, it can exacerbate loneliness, drum up negative memories and even create new worries. So how to navigate difficult emotions and prioritise your mental health at this time of year?

Appreciate Christmas is an emotional time

For some, Christmas can be hard to face and is not the universally special time it is meant to be. Studies show that two in five Brits feel stressed during Christmas thanks to the extra pressure to be cheerful, to buy loads of presents and the focus on socialising with family or friends at parties you’d rather miss.

If Christmas is usually a challenging time, it’s important to know that this is true for lots of people and you’re not alone in feeling like this. It can be especially tough for those with food anxieties as the Christmas food-fest unfolds, whilst many mental health challenges or relationship difficulties can be heightened in the seasonal throng.

Further cost-of-living pressures continue to hit families and affect people of all ages, with many harbouring concerns around job instability or needing to relocate with family to secure a new start. Although Christmas and new experiences are exciting and sometimes challenging, wherever you live in the UK, you can usually find mental health support. West Sussex Mind offers peer support and social get-togethers during the Christmas period and throughout the year.

Prioritise self-care and mental health

Arguably, the festive season is one of the most hectic times of year. During winter, you might prefer cosy nights in binge-watching Netflix, but there’s a real pressure to go to parties, meet up with friends, and see relatives. With that in mind, try and maintain your usual sleep patterns and where possible, treat yourself to some early nights and create a calm, personal environment that supports your mental health.

Exercising and looking after yourself is also important for boosting your mental health at any time of year, but with the colder days and less sunlight, prioritising selfcare at Christmas is even more important. If you’re able to, find time to focus on healthy eating and fit in some of your favourite physical activities, to maintain an ideal amount of exercise and enhance your overall health and wellbeing. You might also like to practice mindfulness, meditation and breathing exercises to manage overwhelming feelings.

Be mindful of relationship and social stresses

Family gatherings can be emotionally charged and Christmas anxiety is fairly well known for being triggered by relationship tensions or confrontations. If you have to go to a family event or party, there’s a fear that this may lead to unresolved tensions, which can enhance anxiety, create conflict and even force tough conversations to happen. To help cope, it’s essential to have your own personal strategies to safeguard your mental wellbeing.

If you’re able, learn how to establish clear boundaries during the festive season. It's perfectly acceptable to limit time with family if interactions become stressful or overwhelming. Prepare gentle but firm responses to potentially triggering conversations. Having an exit strategy if you feel overwhelmed can provide a sense of security. Identify supportive family members or friends with whom you can openly communicate.

If you’re with someone who is struggling, offer support by being empathetic and understanding towards their anxieties and stresses. The key is to recognise that not everyone will want to participate in Christmas events, entertaining pantos or activities, and this is totally fine. Creating a 'support bubble' of understanding individuals can provide emotional support too.

Acknowledge financial pressures

During the whole Christmas holiday and even long before that, there’s a real pressure to spend money on presents, food and alcohol. Indeed, recent studies report that 41 per cent of people report getting into debt because of Christmas. The cost-of-living crisis has added additional money worries to the usual expense of the festive season, making it increasingly challenging for many people.

Open communication about finances can be an important step in managing financial stress, and being honest with friends or family can help. Looking into alternative free gifts that can reduce pressure on your bank balance, such as handmade presents or regifting ideas, can actually be more personal and thoughtful.

Look out for loneliness and seek support

Loneliness can feel particularly acute during the festive season for families with young children, those who live on their own, and elderly people in the community who are far away from relatives. Looking out for people living close by who might be isolated is important and support services are available to help people get out, meet new people and cope during this challenging time. Volunteering at food banks or other local charities can provide support, as well as offering an avenue for those who need a sense of purpose.

If you are feeling lonely or isolated, try to reach out to friends, even with a short text message or a call. And it’s important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Christmas can be challenging, and your feelings are valid. There's no 'correct' way to experience the festive season but the key is to prioritise your mental health, be kind to yourself, and remember that support is always available.

If you are finding all the festivities a struggle and need help with mental health, you’ll find non-judgemental support from West Sussex Mind.