There’s a reason why we call the holidays “the most wonderful time of the year.” It’s because it’s the time when we all get together with our families and friends. We’re able to share the joy of giving thanks to the people who have helped us over the years. However, the holidays can also be a difficult time for those who are struggling with anxiety or depression. If you’re one of them, you’re not alone.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in four adults in the U.S. experience a mental health problem in a given year. For others, the holidays can be a time of sadness and loneliness, as they struggle to come to terms with their grief and loss. As we prepare for the holidays, it’s important to remember that there’s no such thing as a perfect time of year to be feeling down. The holidays can bring with them a whole host of feelings. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious, you might be wondering if you can find help during the holidays. There is a solution: therapy. Here are a few ways that a therapist can help you deal with the stresses of the holidays:
Work Through The Challenges
Holiday parties with alcohol and a plethora of food and desserts, can put a significant strain on those recovering from Alcohol Addiction and Eating Disorders. Family gatherings might uncomfortably trigger you or force you to see people who have hurt you in the past. Hosting events, shopping for loved ones, or meeting seasonal quotas at work create added stress and exacerbate the existing mental health disorders and the challenges you already face in your day-to-day life. You can’t always escape the stress the holidays bring, but you can certainly provide yourself with the guidance, knowledge, and expertise you will need to overcome your stress during the holiday season.
A licensed therapist works with you to analyze the root cause of your thoughts, feelings, and reactions you have toward specific holiday challenges. A therapist can sift through the underlying causes of the issues that help you overcome the mental health disorders and illnesses you may face during this time of year.
Help You Develop Your New Year’s Resolutions
The end of the year is a time of reflection. While looking back on the past 12 months can help you take stock of your achievements and make new goals for the future, it can also lead to a lot of anxiety and shame. Therapy is known as a place where you work towards life changes… but it can also be a great place to conceptualize what those desired changes are in the first place. If year-end reflections have a tendancy to create the feelings of dread, frustration, or worthlessness, then this is the perfect time to start working with a therapist.
A seasoned Psychologist can help to uncover the root of the anxiety and panic attacks that causes you to spiral into negative thinking in the first place. Overcoming these negative thoughts and emotions during therapy is the first step toward healing and successful treatment. Working with a therapist allows you to self examine the anxieties you have and built up but with actionable goals. As a result, you can turn your regrets from the past year and your hopes for the new year into an effective plan to accomplish your mental health goals and build a healthier, happier future.
Another key reason to start seeing a therapist during the holidays is availability. Many people pick up new healthy habits at the start of a new year. Just as everyone rushes to the gym for their resolutions, they book up therapist appointments as well. Starting therapy before or during the holidays puts you ahead of the masses making setting reasonable goals and expectations for both the holiday season and the new year.
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We work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues providing counseling services to individuals, couples, and families. We treat adults and children for depression, anxiety, marriage and relationship issues, and more. Serving the New Orleans, Metairie, and Kenner areas.
