The Reality of the Mental Load for Women During the Holiday Season

Do you tend to feel more stressed out, depressed, or otherwise like you’re struggling to get by during the holidays? It isn’t just you. Women deal with an increase in mental and emotional difficulties during the latter half of the year, and much of the time, this is directly associated with the holiday season.

At Mind and Body Medicine, LLC, we will not only offer you help in learning about, and potentially addressing, any mental health conditions that may be present, but also in recognizing and managing generalized holiday stress. Tamara McDonald, DNP, is ready to provide you with the support you need so you can enjoy the holidays this year — perhaps like never before.

Why women experience increased stress during the holidays

The holiday blues — and the stress associated with this time of the year — can affect everyone. But it’s often more severe for women. Why? There are several reasons you may have noticed you’re dealing with an increased mental load this time of the year that affects you and your female friends and family members more so than your children and male counterparts.

For one, women are often expected to handle household work more than men. Even in this relatively new century, this remains the norm in the United States. And while this can feel like business as usual, the holidays require more shopping, cooking, decorating, and hosting friends and relatives, all of which are largely unpaid and fall on women.

Additionally, people often have more going on during the holidays. And if scheduling for your family is your job (and we’re guessing it is), making sure everyone is where they need to be during the holidays is a stressor in itself.

Finally, mental wellness can take a significant blow during the holidays, regardless of who you are. But half of the women report increased stress during this time of the year. And it could be more than the issues already discussed.

Mental health conditions affecting women during the holiday season

The holidays are even harder when you have a mental health condition, and women are no strangers to this problem. In fact, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are all more common among women than men, and the stress of the holidays — not to mention feelings of loneliness, overwhelm, social anxiety, and food struggles — can all exacerbate these conditions.

Finally, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) also has a higher rate of affecting women than men. This disorder typically manifests in the winter months due to the lack of light and our tendency to spend more time indoors.

If you know you have a mental disorder, it can be easier to get ahead of it during this time of the year, but you may not even realize you have one. If this is the case, consider whether your holiday stresses are becoming too severe for you to manage without affecting your life. In this situation, you might be dealing with a mental disorder.

How to manage holiday stress, depression, and anxiety

Whether you have a diagnosed mental illness or not, you shouldn’t shoulder the mental burden of the holidays without support. Here are some tips for making the holidays more bearable so you can enjoy your time with your loved ones.

Consider seeking integrative psychiatry. You can discuss your struggles and receive holistic care, including talk therapy, exercises, and, when applicable, medication.
Take time for yourself. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and scheduling this along with any other obligations you may have.
It can be hard during the holidays, but excess sweets and alcohol can only increase feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, stress, and depression. Consider cutting back.
Ask for help. Don’t feel like you need to take on everything alone; consider reaching out to friends and family when you’re planning a party or need to run a last-minute shopping errand.
Remember, everything doesn’t have to be perfect. The most important thing about this time of the year is togetherness. Let this mindset lead you.

You’re not alone

The holidays can be a difficult time for everyone, especially women whose to-do lists only keep getting longer. If you need to talk to someone, we’re here. Reach out to our Boise, ID, office via phone or online to make an appointment. You’ll be glad you did.