Maintaining Therapy Throughout the Holidays
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably tempted to schedule fewer therapy sessions during the upcoming holiday season because of your already packed social calendar, including family events, kids being out of school, and, when you do have the blessed hour or two of downtime, not wanting to spend it talking to someone. I get it.
And? Maintaining therapy throughout the holidays is essential to your (and my) mental health.
According to an American Psychological Association survey, 38% of people reported their stress increased during the holiday season, which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. And, a NAMI study showed that 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.
With shorter days giving us less and less daylight, constant news headlines reporting war, hatred, and divisiveness, pressure to make an already thin budget stretch even further, and family dynamics that are complicated, at best, and contentious, at worst,
WE NEED THERAPY.
We need someone to help us:
ground, practice healthy communication strategies, and heal,
process family dynamics and set clear and kind boundaries,
quiet our minds and work through intrusive thoughts,
feel comfortable and safe as we work through life’s challenges and as we celebrate life’s joys.
This is what a therapist does. This is how a therapist guides. This is why meeting with a therapist is vital to our mental health–both now and always.
WE NEED THERAPY.
And we need it consistently in order to maintain our mental health and to cope with the additional stress the holidays can bring.
Let’s make a deal. Let’s commit to showing up to regular therapy appointments throughout November, December, and January. Weekly, biweekly, or monthly–whatever works best for you–show up, process, breathe, heal.
I’m in. Are you? Schedule a therapy appointment today.
