The Hardest Season
By Dr. Scott Eilers, PsyD, LP
More people seek mental health treatment between November and January than any other three-month period of the year. Colder, harsher weather and the isolation that comes with it brings feelings of depression. The additional expenses and responsibilities of the holiday season bring anxiety. Family gatherings can be reminders of grief. That’s what we’re up against in a normal year.
This, of course, is not a normal year.
Many of us won’t be traveling for the holidays as we typically do. Many of us will have smaller gatherings than normal. Some of us won’t gather at all. Getting out of the house will be even riskier and more challenging than it normally is this time of year. The presence of COVID-19 will compound and amplify much of the distress we typically experience during this season.
With these concerns in mind, I want to share a few pandemic holiday stress management tips:
- Remember that you aren’t alone. Physically, you may be more isolated than usual during these winter months but don’t forget that everyone else is too. When we don’t see other people as often or don’t hear them voicing the feelings we experience, our minds can trick us into thinking we’re the only ones struggling. This is never true, but it’s especially untrue right now.
- Find something new. Novelty is crucial to our psychological well-being. We acclimate to routine quickly, then become restless and under-stimulated if nothing varies from that routine. The winter months and the pandemic both exacerbate this. Be on the lookout for a new hobby, a new project or something you aren’t used to doing. This will help reduce that “every day is the same thing” feeling.
- Connect deeper with those you can interact with. What we lose in quantity, we can make up for in quality. Do more with the people around you than you typically do. Start a book club with your partner. Teach your kids a new skill. Do agility courses in the backyard with your dog. Take an online class with friends. Forge deeper connections with those closest to you.
- Focus on yourself more. If there’s been a silver lining to 2020, it’s that some of the daily hassles that prevent us from working on us have faded. This is a great time to start a simple fitness routine, work on sleep hygiene, learn to cook, or start a daily stress-reduction practice like yoga, meditation, or prayer. All those things you always say you want to do but can never find time for.
Lastly, but most importantly, if you’re dealing with emotional distress that can’t be managed with simple strategies like these, please seek help by contacting Mercy Family Counseling and EAP at (319) 398-6575. Depression and anxiety are both at all-time highs. We aren’t made to face things like this alone.
