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The Holidays and your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Holidays and your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

December 20, 2021

The holiday season typically is a time of joyful celebrations with family and friends. Many people look forward to gathering together, exchanging gifts, and celebrating traditions. However, this holiday season, COVID-19 continues to add stress and uncertainty to these normally happy occasions.

Here are some things to keep in mind during this holiday season…

  • Stay connected with loved ones through safe practices. If you are unable to physically join holiday gatherings, stay in touch through social networks such as e-mail, social media, video conferencing, and telephone.
  • Create new holiday traditions. In particular, traditions that include children, such as engaging in family baking or arts and crafts projects.
  • Protect yourself and be supportive to others. Assisting others in a safe manner during the holidays can benefit the person receiving support as well as the helper.
  • Help children find positive ways to express feelings of isolation and frustration during the holiday season through creative activities such as playing and drawing together, which can facilitate this process. Children feel relieved if they can express and communicate their feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
  • During times of stress, it is common for children to seek more attachment and be more demanding on parents. If your children have concerns about how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will affect the holidays, address their concerns to help ease their anxiety. Children will observe adults’ behaviors and emotions for cues on how to manage their own emotions during difficult times.
  • During the holidays, social isolation and stress can be triggers for substance use and depression. Focus on maintaining sobriety during this challenging time by engaging in or continuing to engage in recovery meetings by signing into virtual AA and NA meetings hosted by Zoom at nyintergroup.org.

If you are struggling to manage mental health or maintain sobriety during this holiday season, please reach out.

You are not alone!

For assistance contact MEND 395 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10014 212-366-7590 or MEND@NYCCBF.org.