Health Blog

Many of us experience Christmas and the festive season as a magical, joyful, nostalgic chapter of the year. A time filled with anticipation and excitement, laughter and celebration and connection with loved ones.  Unfortunately for others, it can be a time of increased stress, loneliness and sadness.  There can be many factors involved in why this time of year can be challenging but because of the expectation of positivity, many conversations can be avoided or limited leaving those who are emotionally vulnerable feeling silenced or dismissed.

The chaotic busyness around the festive season can feel like a lifetime of financial pressure, gatherings to attend, Christmas gifts to wrap and deliver, and events to juggle in the diary.  For some, already tense relationships can be put under further pressure; for others anxiety and distress can be propelled into everyday life.  And then there are those where the loss or ill health of loved ones can add even further emotional intensity around every festive plan.  Our physical health can be pushed to its limit – whether that relates to a pre-existing condition or a newly triggered injury – leading to pain or discomfort. Our physical health can impact significantly on our mental health at this time of the year, like any other; but due to many competing demands being squeezed into our diaries, meeting the needs of our physical and mental wellbeing is often not at the top of our Christmas list.

Anxiety, in its many different forms, can impact significantly on our experience of the festive season and new year.  The form of anxiety may differ – it may involve social anxiety, generalised anxiety, panic, health anxiety, or fears around contamination or threat which may lead to obsessive compulsive tendencies. Emotional distress can also include depression or loss and trauma.  Whichever the form of mental health need, the psychologists and therapists at the Springbank Clinic can provide initial assessments for both individual or family/parent focussed treatments; with holistic care being at the core.  

Care, support and understanding can come in many different forms. Talking to a friend, a family member or a neighbour can help share a problem, help a person gain some much-needed emotional support and lead to increased emotional resilience. Doing exercise as stress management can revitalise the person who is mentally and physically exhausted. Or planning some rest breaks over the festive period can help families have the much needed quiet, quality time, which is required – especially when lives are so busy.   Care can also come from the therapeutic relationship with a professional. The ability to come and speak to a psychologist or therapist in a safe, confidential environment can give a person the much-needed time to reflect, understand their needs and prioritise their wellbeing, which can facilitate recovery, growth and an alleviation of symptoms and distress.

We all consider our health and wellbeing through a variety of lenses. We may have the view of some needs being more important than others. Some of us may prioritise the needs of other family members rather than their own. Some of us may not even know and understand what needs need to be met.  Some of us are used to getting our needs met, where as for others even stepping through the door for an initial consultation can feel like the biggest challenge of the year. Psychology can often help demystify emotional needs and mental health concerns. The leap can be broken down into small stepping stones, and the support provided can add an extra helping hand of care and understanding. 

Just like a Christmas dinner, psychology treatment can come in many different forms. Christmas dinner for many will involve roast turkey, carrots, parsnips, potatoes and the (often-dreaded!) sprout or two. Then there are variations – some people may prefer different meats, some may choose a vegetarian option or even fish. Some have Yorkshire puddings. Some don’t do a roast at all. Whatever the options individuals and their families make it is their choice, their experience and their connection to the meal provided on the plate which is important.  This is the same as the process of gaining a psychology assessment, and therapeutic treatment. It is about finding the right person to meet with, the right connection and therefore creating the right experiences, so that a person may feel valued, validated and understood. 
At the core of every treatment there is support, care and compassion.