Our Christmas Support Information – While Christmas may be a time of joy for many, some people might find that they struggle a little bit more during the holiday season.

This can be for a number of reasons. Some may find that the loss of a loved one can be that much more painful when their lack of presence is more notable. Others may have a number of financial concerns, and the burden of food, gifts, and decorations can highlight this strain. You may also have a predetermined mental or physical health condition that, due to the stress of trying to put together a good holiday, gets exacerbated significantly.

If you notice that your symptoms or struggles are becoming unmanageable, or you want to put plans in place to try and prevent this from occurring, it can be a good idea to reach out. While support from family and friends can be crucial to getting you through the darker days, enlisting professional aid might provide you with the tools to keep on top of these problems all year round.

Christmas Support Information

Medical Support

Whether you have noticed that some medical symptoms have worsened, or feel like you are in crisis, gaining medical support can be a good first step forward. This can give you access to advice regarding physical conditions, but could also be beneficial should you have severe negative or disturbing thoughts, particularly about harming yourself or others. If the situation is not an emergency, you can make use of the NHS’ 111 service. However, if your problem is urgent, or rapidly deteriorates, it is best to call the emergency 999 number.

Mental Health Struggles

Regardless of whether you have a diagnosed mental health condition or not, certain times of the year may wreak havoc on your wellbeing. Remember that if a problem is important to you, then you can seek support, even if it may not seem like a big deal in relation to other aspects of life. Some people find it useful to discuss what is concerning them with someone who isn’t involved in their daily life. Whether you have problems in your relationship, are feeling severely isolated, or are simply under a lot of stress, calling the Samaritans for free could be the answer. While the volunteers cannot give medical advice, they can listen to your concerns and act as a sounding board for any steps you might consider taking to achieve a more positive mindset.

Financial Support

Christmas can be a rather expensive holiday. You may have children who have a Christmas Present list filled with the latest gadgets, as well as a groceries list filled with all the food and treats needed to feed any guests you’re hosting. On top of this, you also need to find the money for your usual rent, bills, or other expenses. When money becomes a problem, or you have a lot of debt that is becoming increasingly difficult to manage, you may benefit from speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau. This can give you some valuable advice on learning to budget, as well as the options available to you regarding consolidating debts and setting up affordable repayment plans.

Grief Support

While you might enjoy spending Christmas with your loved ones, it can be difficult to really get into the festive spirit when you miss someone who is no longer here. The grieving period can be hard, and the time it takes to work through grief may vary depending on your own emotional resilience, how close you were to the deceased, and even the circumstances in which they died. Speaking to Cruse bereavement charity might help you to find coping strategies, as well as give you a platform to discuss your thoughts and emotions.

Domestic Violence Support

Not all families are created equally. While things may seem pleasant to outsiders, it sometimes isn’t all it seems behind closed doors. When you factor in the amount of alcohol that may be consumed over Christmas, this can lead to abusive situations. Calling the National Domestic Abuse Helpline can help you to discuss your worries, and even find refuge accommodation if needed. Remember though, if a situation does get too dire, you should call the police. If a person truly loved you, they would not raise a hand against you, or abuse you in other forms.

Eating Disorders

One of the things that many people love about Christmas is the wide array of food available. However, some people may find eating a challenge, and may often feel shame associated with these fears and aversions. You can gain support from Beat regarding your feelings about food, as well as to figure out what level of treatment may be best for you. Beat can also offer information about eating disorders to help you better understand what you are going through. For family and friends, they may also find it useful to speak to the team to see how best to support you, as well as to understand what can and can’t be helpful when liaising with someone who is battling an eating disorder.

LGBT Foundation

While Christmas is traditionally a time for love and family, those who identify as LGBT may find that some people in their lives are not as accepting or understanding. This can greatly affect your self-esteem. Although some older people may struggle with understanding a person’s sexual identity or gender, this does not make any derogatory behaviour acceptable. The LGBT Foundation can provide a listening ear, as well as access to inclusive therapy. As with some of the other situations where you may need support, if you are the victim of violence or abuse it is imperative that you call 999, even if this means reporting a family member.

Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe at Christmas can make the season that much more enjoyable. Although there can be a lot of happy times, remember that everyone’s journey in life is different.

Something that may seem minor to you might be too much for someone else to deal with. Offering and seeking support can be the best gift that you give to either yourself or others

Further Christmas Support Information

More Christmas Support Information can be found through MIND.

Samaritans

116 123 (freephone)
samaritans.org

Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
Samaritans’ Christmas coping information.

NHS UK

nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in England.

Relate

0300 003 0396
relate.org.uk
Provides help and support with relationships, including counselling and telephone support.
Relate’s tips for a stress-free Christmas.

We hope we can help support with our Christmas Support Information page, also check out our Men’s Mental Health feature.