How stress can show up during the holidays
Stress can show up in different ways. In the short term, it might feel like tension, feeling irritable, worry or dread.
Over time, it can affect your mental health and make existing conditions harder to manage. Physical symptoms like headaches, poor sleep, and fatigue are common too.
Why Christmas and 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.
What if the stress doesn’t go away after Christmas?
Festive season stress usually passes once the season is over and you’ve had a chance to rest and recover. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, low in mood, or just not feeling yourself for more than a couple of weeks, we suggest you chat with your GP or contact Beyond Blue.
You could also try the K10 anxiety and depression test. It’s a series of 10 questions that you can do online and will point you in the right direction for support.
