Christmas is meant to be the jolly season, and most people look forward to the twinkling lights, parties, and garish jumpers of the festive period. However, for many, Christmas is not full of fun, love and laughter.
In fact, it can have a negative impact on their mental health and they may need to seek psychotherapy to cope with the strain of this time of the year.
For a start, as Christmas is about being with family, it can highlight the feelings of isolation for those who are estranged from their relatives. While everyone around you seems to be enjoying lots of social events, it can make others feel left out and alone.
Some people find the festive period a challenging time, as they feel overwhelmed by the amount of additional things they have to do. If their life is already busy and full, adding Christmas events, shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking and card-writing can feel too much.
What’s more, the pressure to do so many things over Christmas can lead to financial stress. When taking into account the cost of food, presents, decorations, travelling to family, Santa’s Grottoes, and special days out, the average household in the UK spends £1,811 on the occasion, which is 80 per cent of their monthly income.
For those who have lost someone, Christmas can be a difficult time as they miss spending it with their loved one. It might be the first time they’ve had to attend any of the events or wake up on December 25th by themselves, and it can bring back intense feelings of grief.
It can also make it more difficult for those who are already struggling with their mental health, as they might not be able to access the support they need over Christmas, as services are often closed.
Some people find the disruption in their usual routine difficult to cope with. Although they enjoy the break from daily demands, the lack of structure, healthy eating, an exercise regime and regular social interactions can be challenging.