COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The holiday season, often associated with joy and family gatherings, can also bring significant mental health challenges for many individuals.
The pressure to maintain a “perfect” holiday experience, coupled with financial burdens, time constraints and family dynamics, can lead to anxiety, fatigue and irritability.
The trickle down the fact is people who are in need find themselves having less outlets and less resources that they can tap into.
Pastor Michael Young at City of Grace on Allegheny Ave. said he’s had many conversations with people at his church about how to navigate those common holiday stressors.
“[When people don’t talk about it], it compounds the issue,” he said. “This weight or this heaviness, whether it be depression, whether it be loneliness, things of that nature, the tendency to isolate to me exacerbates the problem.”
It’s not just psychological. It’s neurological.
Dr. Delaney Smith, ADAMH System Chief Clinical Officer, said coming back to childhood environments with familiar people can activate dormant emotional pathways, setting off those negative thoughts.
“We talk a lot when people are in recovery about the idea of people, places and things. Some of that is the expectations that we put on ourselves or that other people put on us,” she said.
Smith said other people during the holidays struggle with depression, anxiety, grief and disruptions to routine, which can cause problems for folks early in addiction recovery.
“Both because oftentimes alcohol or substances are a part of celebrations,” she said. “It might be hard for them to completely be away from those kind of triggers.”
In addition to increased substance use, changes in mood, appetite and sleep are signs Smith said people can look out for. She said it’s important for folks to keep conversations focused on making their loved ones feel seen.
“It’s okay to check in and say, ‘I noticed this difference, how are you doing?'” Smith said. “‘Are you safe?’ ‘Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself?’ Because those are very real things that people need to deal with and they might not feel like they can bring it up until you do.
Young encouraged individuals to set boundaries.
“I think trying to find a new normal and finding new habits and sometimes that means finding new places and new people to spend your holidays with,” he said. “Sometimes we keep doing the same thing over and over again and we find ourselves getting back into old cycles.”
Young also said it’s always okay to ask for help.
“I believe their best days are in front of them, and their later is going to be greater than their past,” he said. “The reality is they’re still here. They may have gone through tough times, but they’re still standing.”
Recovery from addiction is possible. For help, you can call the free, confidential treatment referral hotline at 1-800-662-HELP, or visit findtreatment.gov.
In Franklin County, you can also visit ADAMH to see one of their providers.