Pic1. MHF case managers Roël Haakmat and Leonard Melius.
Holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s can be a wonderful time; getting together with friends and family, presents and surprises, lots of drinks and food and celebrating life and loved ones. But the celebrations and reunions can also cause a lot of stress. This stress can lead to anxiety or worse, especially if you’re dealing with mental health issues.
Roël Haakmat and Leonard Melius are two of the five case managers at Mental Health Foundation (MHF); both have noticed a heightened number of crisis issues during the holidays or in the months after the holidays due to a number of reasons. Case managers deal with a variety of clients, including ambulant care, follow-ups for care and medication, house visits and more. Haakmat: “It is important to be mindful during the holidays and know how you can prevent having a crisis. This way, everyone can enjoy the celebrations to the fullest.”
A “crisis” is when a person is not able to fulfil his or her daily duties anymore. There are different states of crises, depending on the situation and mental illness. Sometimes, it’s feeling depressed to a point that you cannot function or have suicidal thoughts; for others they might lose track of time and their sense of reality. When it is serious, MHF will step in. Especially in cases where the situation is deemed dangerous for the persons themselves or others, they might be placed under involuntary admission.
Certain influences can set off triggers that lead to a crisis; these influences are more likely to happen over the holiday season. Some of these triggers include the following:
• Substance abuse such as alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and other drugs. Parties can create an atmosphere where a person is more tempted to use these substances.
• Relationship stress can also be enhanced, this can be because you want to please everyone, or you might be confronted with a person who causes more stress.
• Lack of sleep due to celebrations and extra pressure to get certain things done.
• Forgetting to take medication in the whirlwind of holiday activities. Some also might think they don’t need medication anymore.
• Heightened emotions. The holidays can make a person feel nostalgic or lonely.
Melius: “The aim is to bring stability; the key to bringing that stability is to have insight, to admit and acknowledge that you have a problem. If you cannot see that you need help as an individual, it becomes difficult to comply with medication and your treatment plan. This can create a big problem on your way to recovery.”
Haakmat: “You have to recognize the signs that a crisis is approaching. If you are aware of who you are, you will also feel the symptoms that can lead to a crisis. You might not be able to concentrate for example. Persons close to you might start noticing unusual behaviour, so it is also important for them to also be conscious of the situation, especially during the Holiday season.”
When the holidays approach, or anything else that might disrupt the stable daily routine, the case workers at MHF talk about the changes to come with their clients and their family or partner. They discuss the possible triggers and educate all parties involved on avoiding a crisis situation.
Stress experienced during the holidays is often due to our own expectations of ourselves to be all things to all people regardless of the physical, mental, and financial strain it places upon us.
Here are a few tips to avoid added stress:
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat well and slowly.
• Take vitamins and make sure to take your medication.
• Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine.
• Recognize that alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs increase stress.
• Plan regular exercise into your schedule.
• Take time for yourself. Make an appointment with yourself to do something you enjoy.
• Re-evaluate your family traditions each year to make sure they are still important to you and your family.
• Continue to celebrate your favourite traditions but also consider making a new one.
• Eliminate what you consider the most unpleasant tasks of the holiday season.
• Include someone who is alone, lonely, or in need on the holiday.
• Plan ahead and set a budget.
• Buy yourself something special and wrap it. When you feel down, unwrap the present.
• Express your feelings.
• Volunteer with friends or family.
• Discuss plans in advance.
• Acknowledge feelings related to holidays.
• Avoid assuming how individuals feel or what activities family members want to be a part of.
• Keep expectations realistic.
• Respect and support each family member’s choices regarding participation in family activities.
• Be flexible and allow for some changes in plans and participation, when possible.
• Think about your own wellbeing; as much as you want to make others happy, put your own health first. Take care of yourself!
Persons also need to be mindful of the time after the holiday season as stressful situations can also arise then. For example, maybe you spent too much during the holidays and feel the financial strain in January. Maybe you feel lonely, as after the holidays, everyone goes back to work and can’t spend as much time together as during the holidays. Maybe you made a bad or irresponsible decision while celebrating. The New Year can also bring an idea of unrealistic expectations and hope, which might not be fulfilled.
If you or a loved one is in a crisis situation, you can call MHF at any time. Depending on the situation, a case manager will contact the person(s) involved, the police and/or ambulance within 15 to 20 minutes. If needed, the case manager will assess the situation on the location and call the psychiatrist to determine the steps that should be taken. There can be an on-location consultation, an appointment might be made or a crisis admission to the MHF.
You can contact MHF at + (721) 542-1677 ext. 1 for crisis situations. Surf to www.mhf-sxm.com for more information.
Mental Health Foundation wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a safe, healthy, crisis-free Holiday Season!
