Emily Pizzale
The holiday season is a time to be with family, but it can be difficult and triggering for people who don’t have families or have suffered great loss or tragedy. Others put pressure on themselves and maybe set goals that weren’t achieved. It’s important to be mindful that these people may put on a happy front, but are in anguish.
I think making the holiday season what you want it to be is important. You don’t have to get everyone a gift. You could make homemade gifts. Spend time with people you want to be around. If there was a tradition you did with a loved one who is no longer here and if it feels good to continue that tradition, then do it, but if you want to change a tradition, feel free to do that as well. Just having patience with yourself and knowing this is an especially challenging time of year for mental health is most important. We feel the pressure to be happy and try to create this Hallmark movie atmosphere. That’s not everyone’s reality and that’s okay.
Keep in mind that mental health is health care. Talking about your mental health should be approached in the same way you talk about pain or a heart issue. It’s a sign of depression to feel sad or dislike activities or people you used to enjoy. Just speaking to someone about why you don’t want to talk to your friends anymore can make a huge difference.
In our virtual world, there are lots of different places that offer support. Online telehealth is one of those options that didn’t exist until just a few years ago. There’s also the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
No matter how you find yourself over the holidays, please take the time to enjoy the season and look forward to a successful new year. You can get support for these concerns and just know you aren’t alone. Find something that brings you joy personally, professionally, or both. For me, that’s a new role at Gifford as an outpatient palliative care coordinator. I get to continue my goal of maximizing and revamping the mental health services for the communities we serve.
