While every place is luminated by Christmas lights and festive decorations, this season can be a tough time for many people. The holidays highlight togetherness and happiness, this can place an emotional weight on the people who are navigating through difficult moments, coping with loss, dealing with mental health problems, among others.
If you’re one of the many people who are experiencing this season with fear, sadness or simply with a heavy weight on your heart, here you’ll find some ways to navigate through the holidays:
Living up to the social expectations of what the holidays are supposed to look or feel like can lead us to push our feelings away. It is more than okay not to feel okay and, yes, even during festive times like this you are allowed to feel all your feelings. Acknowledging and managing your feelings is the first step to feeling better little by little.
Taking care of yourself during times like these should be one of your main priorities. You can take care of yourself by setting boundaries to protect your energy and time, doing mindfulness activities or activities that involve creativity and imagination, taking breaks from social media and surrounding yourself with the ones who make you feel safe and supported. Take one day at a time.
Choose the plans and festive events you want to be a part of. You can even plan activities that give you a sense of calm and ease; like preparing your favorite meal, going out for a walk, reading a great book, calling a friend, etc. Do not pressure yourself to participate in the holiday spirit, remember that this season can look different for everyone.
If your heart is feeling heavy this season, you can make that weight lighter by remembering yourself that whatever you’re going through; it will pass. Breathe and hold onto the hope that eventually things are going to be okay, even if the path isn’t clear right now. Seasons change and so do we.
And last but definitely not least, the best gift you can give yourself this season is a safe space of emotional support, empathetic listening and understanding and you can find that, and much more, in therapy. Therapy is an act of self-care, and it can provide you with the support and comfort you need to navigate through this season.
So, if you are having a hard time coping with this holiday season, remember that you aren’t forgotten and at CAPI, we can provide you with the safe space you need through our different therapy programs.
May this holiday season bring you moments of peace and comfort.