To think mental health issues can get worse at Christmas?

[again2020]

I posted in here the other day about feeling anxious after my works Christmas do. Unfortunately the anxiety and 'beer fear' hasn't gone away! May be due to having unsettled sleep the last couple of nights.
But it made me think and realise that, in the run up to Christmas, both recently and many years ago, that my MH has taken a nosedive at this kind of year.
It's possibly due to pressure to have a good time, being very busy, financial issues, too much alcohol and food, fitting in family and friends, plus my daughter gets over excited about Santa and regularly wakes in the night asking about Christmas! 🎄 ; All adds up to making me feel out of my depth and struggling.
Is this a thing for other people? I know it's supposed to be a very happy time!
Don't mean to be a miser...on the outside I love this time of year and try my best to have a good time.
So as not to drip feed, I do have a history of post partum MH issues and anxiety.
How do people cope with this?

This is definitely a well known thing OP. Lots of people struggle at this time of year for various reasons.

Yes definitely. I have some mh issues and I can become easily overwhelmed by the whole thing - getting all the Christmas presents ready etc. Most of it is already done because I anticipate the overwhelm.

DC have broken up from school (2 under 10) and covid is going to limit activities etc. The teaching staff most definitely deserve the break and the dcs need this too but the bleak weather, limited activities etc. makes me think two weeks seems a very long to keep dc entertained (I have invested in craft activities). My mh is impacted with dc breaking up from school becaus the opportunity to grab any me time which I find helps my overall mh. is impacted too (no extended family to support).

New Year is particularly unpleasant and I find myself dwelling on past events (lots of awful ones over the last decade).

I'm planning to try and take each day as it comes but yes, absolutely - I'm acting the happy role for my dc.

Yes, because it divides people and can highlight both good and bad. Even in normal times, often the end of many relationships, as divorce lawyers busy in January can testify.

It's one of the shittiest times of the year for a lot of people.

• Financial concerns re gifts
• Childhood traumas brought to the fore due to seeing family members
• Feeling lonely because everybody else is with family
• Being reminded on TV etc that you're supposed to be having a jolly, merry time with loving family when you're not.
• Missing loved ones who have died
• being reminded you don't have kids when you're desperately trying for them and Christmas is basically a children's festival

The list is very long, The bottom line is that if you're feeling crap, for any reason, over Christmas you're very definitely not alone!

Gosh yes. The first working days of January are the busiest of the year for divorce lawyers!

You’ve probably explained to me why I’m suffering again. Thank you. It makes sense now.

YANBU, both mental health services and things like Samaritans experience increased demand over the xmas season.

It is like you are not allowed to be depressed during xmas. An almost enforced jolliness, the expectation to see people, party, give gifts etc. It is also so hard when you have had a bereavement in the year.... the first xmas without a loved one. Not even a bereavement.. can be a relationship breakdown too, or even the loss of a pet.

Add to all of the Christmas stuff SADS because we don’t get enough daylight and it’s a perfect storm.

In under a week it’s the shortest day - and then the days will get longer again. That’s the thought that’s keeping me going.

Gingembre has provided a list of very plausible reasons why lots of peoples mental health suffers and I could tick off many of those unfortunately. Everything feels really accentuated at this time.

And also add the perimenopause/menopause (unable to take hrt) and health niggles into the mix (visiting GP soon) when you are the main Christmas organiser and you have to keep on keeping on jollying along. I am definitely missing the 'Merry' bit. I'm feeling the lockdown vibe again with dc at home and husband (relationship issues) wfh.