Why Christmas & New Year can feel extra hard.
The holidays can bring extra stress from money worries, juggling work, family and social events, and navigating tricky relationships or family conflicts.
There’s the gift shopping, work deadlines, school events, family catchups, planning meals, organising travel, and getting ready for New Year’s – it can feel like a lot. This time of year can also bring challenges like family tensions, money worries, social expectations, hosting duties, alcohol, and travel.
Feeling like you have to say yes to everything can be tiring. The pressure to live up to other people’s experiences, especially on social media, and reflecting on the year that’s passed can also affect your mental wellbeing.
credit Beyond Blue
Many thanks to Keith Fagg OAM for the opportunity to share some thoughts in the Geelong Advertiser to help members of our community who may be struggling in this lead up to the Festive Season. There are many on the ground solutions that complement the well known services like R U OK? & Lifeline Australia. A few that are highlighted below include the inspirational Western District Farmer Leila Sweeney-McDougall via her feature film Just a Farmer, Stuart O’Neill founder of a Mental Health Pub in Outback New South Wales who wrote a brilliant hashtagSuicidePrevention tool the book “Just One Reason”. Finally the awesome work of Kane Nuttall & his team at the The Power In You Project help people affected by drug & Alcohol addiction, homelessness, incarceration & mental health challenges.
Over the last 10 years i have developed a range of solutions to the issue(s) of Isolation, Loneliness & Disconnection with the Mental Solution of Social Connection with a focus on Volunteering & Mentoring.
DM me for info about a package that can be tailored for your needs.