The winter break will begin next week, and some of us are ready to pack our bags and go home. Over the next two weeks, I am sure some of us are ready to rest, sleep and have some quiet time with close family and friends. Over the last three months, you overcame the stress of school life. You are now ready for a physical and emotional cleanse and to have a couple of weeks all to yourself.
The holiday season also brings stress and depression. It is overwhelming with all the cooking, hosting, and entertaining, to name a few. The latest variant of COVID-19 only adds an extra layer of fear and anxiety about yourself and your loved ones. However, you can minimize stress and anxiety during the holiday season with some practical tips by becoming more aware of yourself. You may end up keeping yourself mentally and physically safe and enjoying the holidays more than you would think.
So you ask yourself why depression is so common during the holiday season. There are many reasons why this is a common occurrence. It can either be that some people have either a small circle of friends or lack of friends. People who feel isolated feel disconnected and avoid social interaction during this time of year. Unfortunately, withdrawing and avoiding social interaction make the feelings of loneliness worst. Communicating and expressing and letting yourself be heard. By holding on to these feelings, it leads to hopelessness and anxiety.
When stress reaches its peak, it is hard to stop, sit back, and re-group. Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands, so you can combat them before they lead to a meltdown. With some planning and positive thinking, you can find peace and joy during the holidays.
Anger is the best way to describe how some people feel during the holidays. The holidays can also be a good trigger point for returning emotions. The first thing to do is acknowledge what is going on internally about yourself. The best thing to do is keep a journal detailing yourself and how you feel. It is so easy to hold up the emotions that are slowly building inside of you. Take some time for yourself and let it out. Crying is not a submission of being weak. It’s OK to cry and be sad. Who said you have to be happy. Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t want to do or can’t do.
It is effortless to sit and isolate yourself from the outside world. However, seek and reach out, social or club events. Many have weekly outings to get together and offer support and companionship. I am a strong advocate for volunteering. Volunteering brings you out of your shell, and doing something to help others is an excellent way to seek new friendships. Making a difference in someone’s life and positively impacting the community makes you feel good mentally and physically.
It is effortless to get emotional over the little things in life. Doing so becomes a significant hurdle, and once the jump gets too high, you start to trip and fall more. Have you ever had one heated discussion with one person you respect and view as a friend, and you stopped talking to them because of the differences? Now is the opportunity to set aside differences and accept family members and friends the way they are. Be understanding and show compassion when things go the opposite way; stay calm and use your critical thinking skills. You never know what the other person might be going through in their own life.
Learn how to say No! Have you ever agreed to something, and after some serious thought, you said to yourself, why did I decide to do that?. Do you become resentful and overwhelmed afterward? True friends and family will understand if you can’t participate in every activity.
Keep yourself in top physical shape mentally and physically. I am not talking about going for 20 km runs and then spending two hours performing hot yoga every day. Go outside and get some fresh air, walk around the neighbourhood. Get into the habit of building good eating habits. The first thing to do is lower your consumption of alcohol. Who doesn’t enjoy a few drinks over the holidays but drink moderately. Lower your consumption of processed food and snacks. Sleep is vital also because it heals the body and gets you in a better mood. Despite your best efforts, you still can’t overcome the emotions of sadness, physical pain, and hopelessness; go and seek professional help.
Right here at BCIT, we have something called the student health and wellness clinics. The service is free and confidential, offering one-on-one support for those who need it the most. If you cannot schedule an appointment for a one-on-one session, the service provides support through phone or video. Opening up and being vulnerable is very hard for some. Talking to a total stranger about how you are feeling can be overwhelming. But ask yourself? What is worse, holding all these ill emotions until you break? or slowly letting them out and creating feelings of healing. In the end, these are professionals whom you are reaching out to.
It is all about you. Focus on yourself and what needs to be done. Take control and action as soon as possible. You are only getting deeper into the abyss by letting everyday slide. Structure what needs to be done daily and keep a journal or diary. Keep life simple and try not to make things too complicated. Practice gratitude and remember you are strong, and you can do this. It takes a little time and patience combined with the right friends and family. So go out! Smile every day and while you collect your thoughts. Remember, you are loved, and you are beautiful.