MHM Magazine

10 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | Issue 6 | 2021 MHM The holiday season is upon us, which for many is a much anticipated break (especially after the past two years) filled with family time and fun activities. However, for many of our clients this time of year is filled with dread. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so difficult to deal with, if it weren’t for all the expectations people have around how happy they should feel at this time. From the shops, media, movies and more, the expectation to be in a ‘holiday spirit’ is inescapable – everyone is expected to be joyous, otherwise they fall into the ‘Grinch’ category. Yet are these expectations realistic for everyone or are they actually bringing some people down even more? If your clients are already struggling with depression and/or anxiety, meeting these expectations of a happy holiday is often out of reach, increasing their feelings of sadness, anxiety, failure and disconnection. This is especially true if those they’re spending the holiday with (e.g. family) trigger their mental health issues in the first place. So what can they do about this? ESTABLISH THEIR OWN EXPECTATIONS Help your clients shift these to what works for them. In order to come up with more realistic expectations, it’s necessary for them to reflect on By Alexa Scher Clinical Psychologist Johannesburg http://www.alexascher.co.za/ HELPINGPATIENTSPREPARE FOR AND MANAGE THE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS THAT MANY ARE FACED WITH DURING THE HOLIDAYS