Christmas is recognised as not only a season of festivities and family, but a peak in mental health crisis calls and admissions. Many people find this time of year difficult for all manner of reasons. Existing emotional problems can be exaggerated by the pressure to feel festive; loneliness further highlighted in a season of socialising and family. The Samaritan's note an increase in calls at this time of year, and crisis teams often experience greater work load from existing service users, which seems at odd with with the season that should be jolly.
For me this time of year has always been a time of heightened emotions, often swinging from excitement and anticipation, to moods of glow and rumination. There is a huge amount of pressure around Christmas to be perfect. I can remember at least as far back as my teenage years, my constant evaluating of Christmas. Is this right? Is it christmassy enough? Is it perfect? Unsurprisingly this pressure didn't ease as an adult when organising my own family Christmas'. Surrounded by adverts, social media, pintrest and the like I was a ball of emotion, constantly disappointed in my efforts and experiences.
On my daughter's first Christmas I spent two hours walking around my village while she slept in pushchair, tearful and internally declaring myself a failure and Christmas a disaster. Ridiculous. A four month old baby who only sleeps in the pushchair, isn't going to change for one day. What I failed to see was the family I was surrounded by, the magic of Father Christmas reflected in my son's eyes and pure fact that I was alive.
That was last rubbish Christmas. That year I changed my perspective (with the help of some excellent CBT therapy). The following year I chilled right out, concentrated on my beautiful children, my family and enjoying the time. I went for a run on Christmas day, something I wouldn't have allowed myself in the past for not being Christmassy.
None of us will have a perfect Christmas tomorrow. We don't live in a John Lewis advert, children may tantrum, food might burn, loved ones might be absent. But my advice is to find the joy in the Christmas you have. Not yearning the one you'd like, the one you had, the one that someone else has. And if you are struggling I cannot recommend the Samaritan's enough 08457 90 90 90
