Do you struggle with the holiday season?
If you find the holiday season challenging, you’re not alone.
The holidays are often depicted as a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but for many of us, it can bring up a range of difficult thoughts and feelings.
It's okay to feel lonely, angry, anxious, stressed, sad or something else entirely. The most important thing is that you acknowledge your emotions and remember that your wellbeing matters.
In this support guide, you'll find information on:
- Why the holiday season can feel so hard
- Practical tips for reducing stress and managing emotions
- Advice for supporting others who might be struggling.
Scroll down to learn more.
“It felt isolating being surrounded by everyone celebrating, hugging, dancing and laughing. I felt so disconnected.”
Why the holiday season can be so hard
The holiday season can feel challenging for a lot of different reasons.
While everyone will have their own unique circumstances, some of the most common causes are:
- Financial stress: You might feel pressure to spend money on travel, gifts, gatherings, and food, which can be financially stressful. Remember that you can navigate this period with careful planning and resourceful strategies.
- Loneliness: When there's a mismatch between the amount of social connection we have compared to the amount we want, it's easy to feel isolated or lonely. It's important to know you're not alone, and you can take steps to ease this feeling and find connection.
- Grief and loss: It doesn't matter how much time has gone by, the loss of a person, pet, home, job, health, or the future you thought you'd have, grief can feel amplified during the holidays. With so many grief triggers around, it's important you take time to acknowledge your feelings and give yourself permission to grieve.
- Strained relationships: If you're experiencing estrangement, relationship problems, or going through a separation with kids involved, the holidays can bring up feelings of stress, sadness, guilt, grief, and anger. Communicating with family can be difficult, scary, and overwhelming, but there are things you can do to make it easier.
- Change of routine: A lot of us thrive with routines, which is why it's normal to feel out of control or overwhelmed when school, work, exercise, eating habits, or typical day-to-day schedules are thrown off course. It's okay if you need to slow down to make time for self-care.
Tips to help you manage
- Tips for managing loneliness
- Connect with your friends and family. If you can't see them in person you can connect through virtual meetings or phone calls. Sharing your feelings can lead to a stronger sense of connection.
- Volunteer. Giving your time to a charitable cause or volunteering at community events during the holidays can be fulfilling and provide opportunities to meet new people.
- Join social groups. Look for local clubs or social groups that align with your interests. Meeting people with similar hobbies or passions can combat loneliness.
- Attend community events. This can be holiday markets or charity Christmas events - these gatherings can be great opportunities to meet others.
- If you feel comfortable, consider hosting a small get-together with friends or neighbours. Being the host can help you feel more in control and connected.
- Engage in online forums or social media groups related to your interests or struggles. Sharing experiences and advice can create a sense of belonging.
- Create a list of enjoyable activities to do during the holiday season, like hiking, cooking, or art. Keeping busy with things you love can help you feel less lonely.
- Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. Understand that it's ok to feel lonely and that self-care is essential.
- Reach out to mental health professionals or support hotlines if loneliness becomes overwhelming. Remember, Lifeline is always here for you.
You can also try some other strategies to combat loneliness and build social connections.
- Tips for managing financial stress
- Tips for managing grief and loss
- Tips for managing relationships
- Tips for managing overall wellbeing
How to feel connected
Feeling a sense of belonging, especially if you're dealing with challenges like grief and loss or addiction, is really important during the holidays.
You may find it helpful to search Lifeline's Service Finder for local support groups and support services or reach out for peer support via eFriend or Friendline.
You can check out online forums like:
- Lifeline Forums
- Griefline Forums
- ReachOut Forums (for young people).
Continue reading for more tips.
- Ideas on how to connect with others
- Make that first step to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t spoken to in a while through a call, text, or message
- Reach out to friends and family with heartfelt messages, cards, or handwritten letters to let them know you're thinking of them
- Plan to spend meaningful, quality time with your loved ones, whether it's a heart-to-heart talk or a fun activity
- Collaborate on a holiday playlist with friends or family members, adding songs that hold special meaning to each of you
- Participate in online groups or communities related to your interests or hobbies, where you can engage in discussions and connect with like-minded individuals.
- Find online events on sites like Meetup, such as virtual holiday markets or workshops, where you can meet new people and share in festive experiences
- Collaborate on a group project with friends, such as a book club or recipe exchange, creating opportunities for connection and shared experiences
- Host online game nights where you can play digital or board games with friends and family over video calls.
Click here to learn more tips for building strong social connections.
- Spread kindness as a way to connect
- Ideas for connecting with yourself
“I started reading a lot and spent time on forums. That's where I found a lot of support. ”
These tips might not work for everyone, and that’s okay.
Sometimes, we really do feel like we are all on our own, and it can be an incredibly lonely feeling.
However deep your sense of isolation may be, please know that Lifeline is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via 13 11 14, text, and online chat.
Supporting others
While the holiday season is often associated with joy and celebration, it's important to remember that for some, this time of year can be a period of challenges and emotional struggles.
Holidays can be an opportunity to extend a helping hand, share warmth, and provide comfort to friends, family members, and even strangers who may be experiencing difficulties.
Below, you can learn ways you can offer support and kindness to those who may be facing difficulties during the holidays.
- Check in regularly and provide emotional support
- Offer practical ways to reduce stress
- Acknowledge different experiences
- Connect and share resources
- Encourage self-care
Tips for supporting children and young people
The holiday season may bring its own set of difficulties for children and young people.
If you're worried about a young loved one, here are some extra steps you can take to foster connections and provide support:
- Encourage a healthy perspective on the holiday season. Explain that it's okay not to feel cheerful all the time and that it's normal to experience ups and downs.
- Validate their emotions, even if they don't align with the festive mood. Let them know it's okay to feel sad or stressed, and that you're there to help.
- Children and young people often learn by example. Demonstrating how to cope with stress and adversity in a healthy way can be valuable.
- Create a safe space for open dialogues. Encourage children and young people to express their thoughts and feelings about the holidays, including any concerns or stress they may have.
- Teach them age-appropriate coping strategies, such as deep breathing, journaling, or talking to a trusted adult if they're feeling overwhelmed.
- Keep an eye out for signs of emotional distress or behavioural changes. If you notice any concerning signs and are not sure what to do, don't hesitate to seek professional guidance to ensure they receive the support they need.
For children and young people experiencing the overwhelm that can come with social media and being online, you may want to invite them to consider doing a digital detox. On the flip side, you may find they are in need of social connection and could benefit from engaging with online support services like ReachOut.
We know this can be a really difficult time, which is why we're here to listen, offer understanding, and walk this journey with you - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
