Taking time off for the winter holidays is a common enough practice. However, it’s important to recognize that this time of year can still be very stressful and emotionally volatile. When you don’t have the structure of your usual routine, and when you’re busy preparing for special occasions, it’s common for symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression to make an appearance. It’s good to give yourself a break from responsibilities like work over the holidays. However, much like your physical health or a pet that you need to feed and care for every day, your mental health may not fare well if you ignore it during this time.

A mental health relapse refers to the return of symptoms of a mental health disorder after a period of improvement. A relapse can be triggered by stressors, such as those commonly experienced during the holidays. It isn’t something you should blame yourself for. Even so, once your symptoms are back in full swing, it can be costly and time consuming to recover. With the right care in place, sometimes relapses can be prevented.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about why you should consider sticking with your mental health treatment to prevent a relapse this holiday season.

Mental health treatment during the holidays is critical for relapse prevention

The very end of the year can be a stressful time, especially if you’ve struggled with your mental health in the past. As a society, we have high expectations for what “the most wonderful time of the year” should look like. We also place a high value on productivity in the final weeks of the year — while we ironically have fewer hours of daylight. Whether you love the winter holidays or you’d rather avoid them altogether, it may take some planning to care for yourself and manage your emotions during the holidays. 

6 reasons why mental health treatment should be part of your relapse prevention plan this holiday season

Having a mental health condition is a fact of life for many people. While seeking treatment can be challenging in its own way, the right approach and the right care team will empower you to find clarity and control over your mental wellness. Denying your symptoms or trying to ignore them only allows them to build up over time. When we’re distressed, we instinctively look for ways to self-regulate. If you’re not intentionally choosing healthy ways to cope, you may fall into old habits that aren’t as effective in the long term. Like mindfulness practices, when you stop going to therapy or taking your medication, you don’t enjoy the same benefits in your daily life. 

Consider these six reasons why mental health treatment should be part of your relapse prevention plan this holiday season:

• To have the support you need on tough days — For many people, certain holidays and anniversaries bring up painful memories. If you’re missing a loved one or healing from past trauma, you may need support from a licensed clinician to navigate these times when you’re feeling overwhelmed. A therapist will be there to listen and help you make sure your emotional needs are met.
• To plan your self-care and choose healthy ways to cope — Are there certain occasions on your calendar that might be stressful? Or situations in your work or personal life that may bring up challenges? Building some self-care and relaxation into your schedule can help you avoid crises that will require more extensive recovery. This can help calm any anxieties and “what-ifs” running through your mind. In moments when you are triggered, you’ll know exactly what you can do to get through it.
• To create action plans for family gatherings — Personality conflicts and disagreements between family members have a way of coming out when everyone gets together. If you’re already anticipating that certain relatives might get under your skin, a therapist can help you learn some strategies to defuse these situations in a way that feels good to you. You might come up with some responses to use or make an “escape plan” with a family member you trust.
• To have regular check-ins you can rely on — Having regular therapy sessions during busy weeks can help you stay mindful and aware of your internal experience. When you start running on autopilot, that’s when negative thoughts and unhealthy coping mechanisms can start creeping in. Your therapist can help you recognize symptoms before they cause too much stress and know when to slow down and rest.
• To prevent a relapse of a mental health disorder — Excessive stress and overexertion can exacerbate symptoms of mental health conditions, making self-care and treatment adherence vital during demanding times like the holidays. It can be easy to forget that things like anxiety and depression are clinical conditions with effective treatments available. Seeing a therapist can make the difference between having a full relapse and keeping your symptoms to a manageable level. 
• Because you don’t have to do this alone — Nobody is meant to carry their emotional burdens on their own. We need friends, family and sometimes licensed mental health professionals to stay mentally well. We all rely on specialists to help us with different aspects of our lives, and mental health is no different. Depending on what’s happening in your life and how you’re feeling, you may need an outpatient therapist or a higher level of treatment from a team of licensed clinicians.

Mental wellness isn’t just the absence of symptoms and conditions. It’s a state of being that you maintain with the choices you make every day. You need to stay in touch with your personal values and intentions and recognize challenges that may get in the way of those things. You also need to identify and practice skills you can use to manage your emotions, your behavior and your relationships. Doing all of this on your own is difficult, even on a typical day. Having regular check-ins with your therapist or your treatment team during the holiday season will help you proactively care for your mental health.

Preventing or recovering from a relapse can sometimes take more than outpatient therapy. At Lightfully, we help people with mental health conditions that are impacting their ability to function. We use our Precision Care Model to provide highly personalized mental health treatment to each of our unique clients. 

Do you need some extra support to recover from a relapse or prevent one this holiday season? Get in touch with us and find out if treatment at Lightfully is right for you.