Managing Your Mental Health at Christmas

Rachel Gordon

December 22, 2025

6 min read

For many people, Christmas is a time of happiness and celebration, however that is not the case for everyone and the pomp and ceremony of the festivities can have a detrimental impact on many people’s mental health. The glitz and glamour of the season often brings with it elevated stress and whilst for some this may be limited to stress over what presents to get for whom, for others, this increase in stress can make Christmas overwhelming. Moreover, for those who already struggle with their mental health the expectation for Christmas to be a time of relentless joy can exacerbate pre-existing difficulties.

To help keep stress levels to a manageable level we’ve put together some suggestions as to how you can manage your mental health at Christmas. In this article we will outline why Christmas may cause some people to struggle with their mental health and provide guidance on what you can do to look after your wellbeing during the festive season.

Why Might Christmas Affect Mental Health?

Christmas can be a difficult time of year for a myriad of reasons. It may be a season specific issue, such as negative memories or feelings associated with Christmas, or the pressure to make it the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ can greatly exacerbate pre-existing struggles.

A 2024 YouGov study found that 45% of Brits surveyed found Christmas stressful. This number increased for parents with children under 18 with 52% saying they found Christmas stressful. The data also highlighted that stress levels for mothers with children under 18 were notably higher (62%) than for fathers (44%).

Below you will find some examples of how Christmas may impact someone’s mental health. This list is not exhaustive and it’s important to recognise that people can struggle with their mental health for a wide range of reasons. Moreover, people react differently to different situations and what may be deemed ‘manageable’ to some, can be unmanageable for others.

When examining the ways in which Christmas can affect our mental health remember that mental health struggles are highly individualistic and do not need to ‘make sense’ to others to be valid.

Christmas may impact a person’s mental health for a variety of reasons such as:

A key focus of Christmas is spending time with loved ones. For those who lack a close network of family or friends this can cause intense feelings of loneliness. It can also cause painful memories of lost loved ones to resurface.

Christmas can be a very costly time of year. People tend to overspend at Christmas, whether that be on expensive gifts, social events, travelling, decorations or food. For those already in financial difficulty, the pressure to have a perfect Christmas can add further strain and can cause some people to get into debt.

Family decorating a christmas tree together

Christmas can be a very busy time of year with a lot of different things happening at once. This can make people feel tired and anxious and easily forget about making time for themselves.

Christmas only comes once a year and this can mean there are a lot of changes in December to accommodate it and make it as special as possible. This can cause significant disruption to regular routines. Some people find comfort and calm in order and structure and the changeability that Christmas brings with it can therefore be very chaotic and upsetting.

At Christmas we often end up overexerting ourselves socially. For many people the festive period is one full of drinks, meals out and seeing friends and family you haven’t seen for a while. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the increased number of social commitments and expectations of Christmas.

Decorations are a fundamental part of Christmas however the twinkling lights of the season can prove to be a sensory overload for some. Throughout Christmas everything is more intense such as lights, music, traffic and crowds. Christmas markets can render town centres busy and untraversable creating feelings of claustrophobia and discomfort.

Christmas is synonymous with a time of indulgence but this can quickly veer into overindulgence. Many people tend to overindulge in food and alcohol during the season. For those with pre-existing struggles with food or alcohol this can be difficult to navigate in a healthy way causing anxiety and stress. Moreover, overindulging in food and alcohol in such a short space of time can have a negative impact on some people’s mental and physical health.

How to Look After Your Mental Health at Christmas

Below you will find some helpful tips on how you can look after your mental health at Christmas. These tips can be applied year round and adapted to any time of year, however it may be beneficial to implement these at times such as Christmas when there are greater external pressures that may cause stress.

Exercise moderation – As mentioned, Christmas can be a time of excess and so it is important to exercise moderation. It can be helpful to think of the Christmas period as a marathon and not a sprint and this can help you to better divide your time and energy so that you have the capacity for everything that you want to do. It’s also important to remember that moderation looks different for everyone. What some may see as a manageable amount of social commitments, others may find unbearable. Know your own limits and don’t feel pressured to push them simply because it’s Christmas. This applies to social commitments, food and alcohol.

Make time for yourself – The hustle and bustle of Christmas can make it all too easy to forget about your own needs. Whilst the season is the perfect time to show those around us how much we care, it’s also important to show that care to ourselves. Self-care is incredibly important and so you should aim to set aside some ‘me time’ so that you can slow down and do something you enjoy. This could be reading, going for a walk, crafting or simply staying in and doing nothing. Setting aside this time during the festive period can help to make a particularly hectic time of year feel more manageable and less chaotic.

Reach out and talk – Talking to others can be incredibly beneficial to your mental health. It is helpful to talk about how you are feeling whether that be to a loved one or medical professional. Christmas isn’t always a time of good cheer and for those who struggle at this time of year, not having someone to talk to can exacerbate feelings of loneliness. However, reaching out and talking to someone can greatly reduce these feelings of isolation. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to talk about anything that you don’t want to, or aren’t comfortable talking about. For some, opening up about mental health struggles can be very cathartic however it can be incredibly daunting for others. Sometimes a light hearted conversation about what people are watching on tv or their general plans for the season can be enough to feel less lonely. If you feel as though you have no one to talk to, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call their free helpline on 116 123 for a listening ear.
Practice mindfulness – Mindfulness is a technique which involves focusing the mind on your body or breathing. Doing so draws your attention to what is happening in the present moment. Concentrating on one thing can help to stop the mind from drifting to negative thought patterns and feelings. As a result, mindfulness can help you to feel calmer, become more self-aware and manage your responses to harmful thoughts.

One of the most important things to remember when supporting your mental health at Christmas is to do what works for you. Whilst we can find comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone in our struggle, how and why someone is struggling with their mental health differs greatly from person to person. As such, the type of support that will be effective will also differ from person to person. What works for one person may not necessarily work for you and that’s fine. Pay attention to the things that trigger you and what is most effective at helping you to manage your triggers.

Looking for More?

Our wide range of Mental Health Courses will help you to manage your mental health and learn the skills to support others not just at Christmas but all year round.

Christmas Wellbeing Activities

Taking part in different activities at Christmas can help to support your mental health. These activities can be enjoyed with friends and family or alone and can also be a great way to give back to your local community. When taking part in Christmas activities avoid overcommitting and taking on more than you can manage. Try to pick a range of activities so that you can enjoy some more social activities as well as some more calming, solo activities.

Christmas activities that can support your wellbeing include:

Wreath making
Making Christmas cards
Crafting decorations
Festive baking
Volunteering
Hosting quizzes/games nights
Going for walks
Yoga
Reading
Watching festive films

Where Can I Get Help?

IIf you are struggling with your mental health know that you are not alone. There are plenty of places that you can get help and organisations that you can reach out to. In times of crisis it can feel impossible to talk to someone you know about what you are experiencing. It can therefore feel easier to talk to and get confidential help from a stranger.

Below you will find a list of organisations that you can contact for a listening ear and advice and guidance on how to support your mental health.

Samaritans – Available to call on 116 123, for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Samaritans can provide a listening ear or someone to talk to. They will never judge you or tell you what to do.
Mind – You can call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. They can provide you with information on the types of mental health problems, where to get help, and possible treatments.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – The charity runs a free, confidential helpline (0800 58 58 58) and webchat service offering information and advice to anyone struggling with mental health problems. They are available every day from 5pm to midnight. As a charity, one of their main focuses is on preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK.
Shout Crisis Text Line – Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Like the helplines, it is free, but provides an alternative means of help if someone does not want to have a phone call.

If you feel that you are at immediate risk then you should call 999 immediately or go to A&E.

The pressure to have a ‘perfect’ Christmas can create stress, anxiety and exacerbate pre-existing mental health struggles. Taking the time to look after yourself and be kind to your mind can help to keep your season festive, bright and most importantly, manageable.