The holiday season is upon us, and while some people look forward to this time of year, others dread having to navigate the holidays if they are dealing with chronic pain and depression. As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, there is a strong link between chronic pain and an increased risk of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and both chronic pain and your mental health can get worse during the holiday season for a host of reasons.
Maybe family issues take the spotlight this time of year, you’re dealing with the financial stress that the holidays can bring, or you’re worried that seasonal affective disorder brought on by the colder and darker days could further complicate your mental health. These are all real threats to your mental health that countless people deal with during the holidays. And while it may not make you feel a lot better that others are going through something similar, there are ways to combat chronic pain and depression during the holidays. We share those tips in today’s blog.
Managing Your Mental And Physical Health During The Holidays
Everyone is dealing with their own issues, so there’s no one-size-fits-all playbook for overcoming issues that can be intensified during the holidays. Some of these tips may be helpful to you, while others may not. What’s important is that you keep on trying until you find a healthy outlet that works for you.
Learn To Say No – One of the best things you can do during the busy holiday season is learn to say no. Don’t spread yourself too thin by trying to please others all the time. Set some healthy boundaries and say no when things aren’t right for your physical or mental health. While that may sound easier said than done, really try to start setting health boundaries and saying no for the betterment of your health.
Exercise – Numerous studies have found an association between exercise and improved mental and physical health. Now, that’s not to say that going for a run will cure your depression or fix your ailing back, but it’s a step in the right direction. Exercise and activity strengthens our body and releases dopamine in our brain, which acts as a natural mood enhancer. Find ways to get moving every day because activity and exercise can help improve your physical and mental health.
Manage Your Expectations – It’s also important to have realistic expectations and goals. If you have unreasonable expectations, you’ll constantly be missing your target, and that can be self-defeating. You don’t need to try to lose 30 pounds in a month or run a half marathon next month. Instead, start with small, easily attainable goals and build on those. Something simple like “Do three things for your mental or physical health today,” and then write down what three things you did at the end of the day. Work on setting attainable goals and expectations so that you set yourself up for success.
De-stress Your Way – The holidays can be extremely stressful, and that can be hard on your mental and physical well-being. Now more than ever, it’s important that you find ways to help yourself de-stress. Take your dog for a walk, run on the treadmill, head to your room and read for 30 minutes, call a friend and talk about anything other than what’s stressing you. Find what works for you, and when you feel stress developing, alleviate it with healthy habits.
Reach Out To A Pain Management Specialist – Finally, if you’re still finding it difficult to manage physical or mental health issues this holiday season, please reach out to a professional. Not only is our team well-versed in helping treat physical chronic pain issues, but we have decades of knowledge of the mental side of pain and stress. If you don’t take care of the mental aspects of pain, anxiety and depression, the physical side will never truly resolve, and vice versa. Let us help find individual solutions for whatever is bothering you.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, but we know that won’t come easy for many people. Just know that we’re here for you if you need us. For more information, contact Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.