Therapy in Chester, NJ
Give The Gift Of Mental Health This Holiday Season
So at this point in the year, you “should” be full of joy and happiness, shopping for holiday gifts and preparing for family meals. But, regardless of the season, your depression or mental illness is getting in the way of you feeling in the mood to celebrate.
You may be feeling guilty or even more down because how could someone like you be depressed? You have a close family, you have a decent job, and there will be gifts exchanged with loved ones this holiday season…what do you have to be sad about? Only people who are struggling financially or living alone can justify being sad, right? …WRONG!
Depression and other mental illness do not discriminate and can affect anyone at anytime, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, age, or gender. And odds are, everyone knows someone personally who has somehow been affected by mental illness, either directly or indirectly.
Whatever the trigger or situation may be, there are many treatment options available. These can include individual or group therapy, prescription medication, eye movement therapy, and many others (contact me or another mental health professional for more details). In addition to therapies, there are many self-help resources out there that can be used independently for minor mental health issues or as enhancements to traditional treatments.
Given that you or someone you know is likely to be dealing with mental health issues, especially this time of year when family is emphasized and Seasonal Affective Disorder is on the rise, give the gift of mental health to yourself or to your loved one.
This gift can be doing the research essential to find what community or state resources are available and what professionals and resources are covered under your specific health insurance. Offering this information can be the first step to seeking help; it can be the practical assistance needed to make the appointment or the encouraging push needed to muster up the courage to call.
In addition to doing the time consuming and frustrating research, you can give the gift of emotional support during the treatment process. Just offering to talk, listen, or be a distraction can make a huge difference for someone suffering from a mental illness. You can go even further to offer more practical support, such as transportation to and from appointments (whether because he/she cannot drive or for comfort reasons), financial assistance, or helping with reminders to take medications. These gifts will be remembered and treasured for a lifetime, much more than a scarf or sweater will be.
If you’d like to show your support while still feeling like you’re giving a wrapped gift, take a look at websites such as www.selfhelpwarehouse.com where you can shop for board or card games, sand therapy tools, and other game packages that are labeled with appropriate age ranges and diagnoses/symptoms that you’re looking to target.
My last suggestion for giving the gift of mental health this holiday season is to connect your loved one (or yourself) with the many mental health apps available on tablets, smartphones, and computers. These apps can be games or tools for managing your symptoms, as well as chatting with trained professionals (such as with Talkspace).
Remember that mental illness can and does affect anyone, and this is no different this time of year just because you’re “supposed” to be full of joy. If you’d like more information about giving the gift of mental health, or if you’re ready to seek treatment for your mental illness, I am here to help!
Contact
Risa Simpson-Davis, LCSW
www.risasimpsondavis.com