The picture of a nostalgic, heartwarming holiday season permeates our collective idea of what the winter season ‘should’ be. But, for many people who struggle with food, body distress, and other mental health issues, it can feel more like a nightmare. The winter season can feel isolating and stressful. Changes in routine, pressure from family and friends, school and work commitments, and beyond can feel like the perfect storm of isolating anxiety.

By: Alexandra Carter

So what can you do to prioritize your mental health and make winter break a time of recovery instead? Below are five suggestions to help you make mental health a priority this year.

A Quick Note About Mental Health and Recovery

Above all, you deserve support. Mental health struggles, like eating disorders, are severe, complicated conditions that often need expert-level care. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek professional guidance. You deserve to feel support and relief during the holiday season and beyond. The suggestions below do not replace treatment or specialized care; instead, they seek to enhance that work. If you or someone you love needs food or body image distress support, connect with our BALANCE team today.

Here are the five suggestions to help prioritize your mental health and recovery this winter.

Validate What You Are Feeling

There can be a lot of guilt and shame with struggling during the holidays, but your feelings are valid. However you feel, whenever you feel it, is valid. The more you acknowledge and accept that your feelings are valid, the easier it is to navigate them.

Be Compassionate With Yourself

Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your best friend. You deserve the same kindness you offer others, even within your head.

Set Boundaries For Yourself

A part of staying recovery-focused is keeping your world recovery-aligned. This can mean setting boundaries with yourself and others to uphold the work you are doing, especially in routine changes like during a winter break. Don’t be afraid to communicate your needs. It will feel worthwhile in the long run.

Establish Routines

Often, winter break can feel destabilizing because our day-t0-day routines change. Whether on a break from school or navigating winter work changes, do your best to create consistency for yourself. California State University’s Personal Growth and Counseling Center yes explains that continuing with routines and focusing on regularity in terms of sleep and eating will help you stay recovery-focused even when things look different.

Make Time For Self-Care

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the winter holidays and forget to check in with yourself. But setting aside the time to check in and do something kind for yourself is powerful. The National Alliance on Mental Illness suggests that meditating, reading a book, going to the movies, listening to music, spending time with a pet, or even getting out in nature can have many benefits beyond the moment.

You and Your Recovery Are a Priority

As mentioned above, getting the support you deserve is the most critical aspect of taking care of your mental health and recovery this winter. Imagine heading into the spring feeling the freedom of healing and the support of an expert team to guide you.

Let BALANCE help you navigate the holidays and set the stage for lasting recovery. Our 12-day winter intensive program, which moves at a pace that works for you, can help you feel more at ease and resilient than ever. Find a renewed sense of relief and confidence in the new year as our team guides you toward lasting and meaningful change.

Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.

This post was written by Intuitive Eating | HAES Content Creator, Alexandra Carter (she/her).

Alexandra Carter is a professional actor, turned certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and Health and Wellbeing Coach, turned Content Creator. After moving to NYC for her undergraduate degree in Musical Theater, Alexandra spent 10 years working all over the world as an actor/singer/dancer. Through her own healing journey, Alexandra found her way to the anti-diet space and went on to gain coaching and counseling certifications, in addition to starting her own coaching business. It was there she fell in love with content creation as a way of sharing ideas, genuinely connecting with people, and affecting powerful change. Alexandra is thrilled to be on the team at BALANCE, combining all her skills and passions to foster authentic healing.

References

Bay, C. S. U. M. (n.d.). How to stay mentally healthy during winter break. How to stay mentally healthy during winter break | California State University Monterey Bay. Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://csumb.edu/news/news-listing/how-to-stay-mentally-healthy-during-winter-break/

Maintaining mental health during the holiday season (and a pandemic). NAMI California. (2020, December 23). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://namica.org/blog/handling-stress-during-the-holiday-season/

Surviving painful holiday emotions. NAMI. (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2022, from https://nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/November-2020/Surviving-Painful-Holiday-Emotions

Winter Break in Recovery: Make Mental Health a Priority