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Minding yourself this Christmas: How to protect your mental health at this time of year

It can be stressful at the best of times, here we take a look at how this Christmas can be a relaxing time.

THE FESTIVE PERIOD can be a very stressful period for many people. There are the family members you only see once a year, there are financial pressures and also the feeling that you have too much to do and not enough time to do it in.

It is not uncommon for those living with a mental health condition to feel overwhelmed by the festivities.

It is also not uncommon for someone without one either.

So many things that are part of our routines and we take for granted become disrupted by the change of pace in our lives.

Christmas shopping The festive period can be a very stressful time. Niall Carson / PA Niall Carson / PA / PA

However, according to Mental Health Ireland, there are a number of ways we can be kind to ourselves this Christmas.

They include:

  • Be careful with the drink: Mental Health Ireland is reminding the public that alcohol is a depressant and, although it makes users feel relaxed, drinking large amounts can lead to low mood and irritability.
  • Get your head down: The festive period can throw our sleeping schedules out of sync as a result of our social lives. The advice is to try and stick to a regular sleeping pattern and get more exercise which will help you nod off.
  • Volunteer: Doing something good boosts your self-esteem, inceases happiness and can even benefit your physical health. Helping out at a charity will get you out and about and talking to people.
  • Stay in touch with the people you love: While it may be difficult to see everyone over Christmas, picking up the phone and having a chat with a friend can seriously boost your mood. Make plans in the near future to do something with the people who weren’t able to see over the Christmas time.
  • Get some exercise: Christmas can be a time for gluttony but Mental Health Ireland say exercise is one of the best things someone can do to elevate their mood. Endorphins released during and after exercise relax us and make us feel happy.

If you’re feeling low and need to speak to someone, the Samaritans are at hand 24/7. They can be contacted on 116 123 or online.

Read: Children’s hospital costs like a ‘runaway train’ as they rocket to €1bn >

Read: Should you renovate your house, or move to a different one? We ask the experts >

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17 Comments
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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:18 PM

    The Holy Gr-ale

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Sep 25th 2015, 11:59 PM

    St.Out

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    Mute John Reese
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:34 PM

    Just watching some US coverage of his visit. Whatever your views on the church FOX are nothing short of a disgrace on their commentary and comments…mocking him etc. They’re parents probably voted against Kennedy because he was Catholic.

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    Mute Jamsey
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:40 PM

    My favourite quote was from Jeb Bush saying that the Pope shouldn’t comment on climate change because he’s not a scientist…… I’m pretty sure his family all world renowned scientists…. Not!!!

    57
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    Mute John Reese
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:53 PM

    FOX must have said he hates capitalism three times in a minute. A priest they had on air said no he hates rich greedy people to which fox just cut him off.

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    Mute Jamsey
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:01 PM

    I really try not to watch FOX news.It actually hurts to listen to such blatant and deliberate ignorance and normally I’d be all for a bit of Pope bashing.

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:31 PM

    Jamsey, I noticed that too. Jen Bush seems determined to put his foot in his own mouth.

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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:41 PM

    Fox News and the Conservative party are now more backward than the Catholic Church. That takes some doing.

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    Mute For Connolly
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:49 PM

    Jamsey, here’s everything you need to know about the Bush brothers in 5 words…

    The smart ones called Jeb

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Sep 26th 2015, 1:04 PM

    You watch the Fox KKK Network…

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    Mute Dave cullen
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:21 PM

    Be great craic having a few beers with the Pope belting out “the green fields of France”,apparently he can do the chorus of “back home in Derry” too.

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    Mute Jim Faulkner
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:34 PM

    If it’s as good as some of the other Belgian beers he’ll be on his knees before he knows it! :-)

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:18 PM

    He probably prefers Bishops Finger

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:11 PM

    No but I fookin wil, 9%+ I’ll have suma daat !!

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    Mute gary power
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:24 PM

    the devils nectar. .

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Sep 25th 2015, 9:42 PM

    Percent means parts per 100

    9.75 parts per 100

    Reduce> 9+7+5+1+0+0 = 22

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:05 PM

    2000 US Gallons = 7570.824 Liters

    Reduce > 7+5+7+0+8+2+4 = 33

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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Sep 26th 2015, 8:31 AM

    Again with the numbers? What’s the craic with that Jack?

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    Mute Periguin
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    Sep 26th 2015, 12:12 PM

    Rainman.

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    Mute Beanstalk
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:23 PM

    This is great! I thought I was reading a story from The Onion!

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Sep 25th 2015, 10:17 PM

    A good ride followed by a bottle of cold holy wooder. Sorted your holyness.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Sep 26th 2015, 1:31 AM

    Then he can do the magic trick of turning wine into blood… Yummy blood.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Sep 26th 2015, 1:06 PM

    Sheep shagging is illegal lol.

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    Mute Barty
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    Sep 26th 2015, 8:17 AM

    Love the call sign for the Pope’s plane on his American visit ” Shepherd 1 “

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