December is Stress-Free Family Holidays Month
For many, the winter holidays can be the most stressful time of the year. The pressures to keep up with social occasions and make others happy can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Here are some simple ideas for cutting holiday stress.
- Don’t seek perfection. People often maintain an idealized image of how the holidays should be. However, everything about your holiday season doesn’t have to be perfect or just like last year.
- Simplify wherever possible. Be realistic about what you can do during the holidays. Eliminate some tasks or social functions so that you have more time to enjoy the people you value most.
- Avoid social media. Others posting images of lavish dinners and perfect parties can lead us to feel we’re not measuring up.4.Continue your workout routines. Exercise helps bust stress and burn off calories that accumulate so quickly at this time of year.
Throughout the entire month of December, there are a number of nationally recognized themes that you can help promote, including:
- National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3)
This month, Stamp Out Stigma is taking the opportunity to bring more awareness around how the holidays affect us. We will be highlighting the importance of knowing the warning signs of mental health conditions and how to manage stress during the holiday season, as well as share resources and tips on how to start the conversation if you’re worried about a loved one. Throughout December, we encourage family, friends, and loved ones to learn more about mental illness and what resources are available to help those find treatment. Here are some important facts you should know:
- Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46 percent) or left out (47 percent).
- Depression affects 20-25% of Americans ages 18+ in a given year.
- Many factors, including unrealistic expectations, financial pressures, and excessive commitments can cause stress and anxiety at holiday time.
- 64 percent of people say their mental health stress level increases exponentially around this time of year.
- Headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, and insomnia are some of the possible consequences of poorly managed holiday stress.
Remember, mental illness does not discriminate. Join us to help bring attention to the importance of sharing mental health stories and help improve the lives of millions of Americans living with a mental illness.
Help is available! Visit www.MagellanHealthcare.com/About/MYMH or contact your program to learn more about how to help yourself or someone you care about.