Page 14 - Jigsaw January 2021

Staying Well
Our mental and emotional wellbeing has taken an absolute battering this year. Previously mental health has had a stigma but that’s changing; people know it’s okay not to be okay.
Did you read the first line and think ‘YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!’. Have you experienced stress, anxiety, depression or low mood for the first time? Perhaps existing mental health issues have got worse or you’re reading with a friend/ family member in mind.
Many find the Christmas period overwhelming. For some, our normal lives stop. Our bodies go ‘Phew’ and our minds slump. We reflect on what’s happened
in the last year. This time we might think “crikey, did we really go through all that?”. We remember loved ones who are no longer with us. Money stress gets worse. Traditions might be trashed by COVID-19 restrictions. For some workers Christmas is their busiest time of the year. Work pressure ramps up and stress levels go through the roof. All this and more can add up to a pretty tough time.
Christmas can also be a time of great
optimism and hope. A chance to rest, restart and reset with a fresh New Year. Start 2021 with some support in place. Plan to prioritise your wellbeing. Your mental health and your physical health; you should seek support for both. Contact your GP or call one of the free support numbers listed.
The charity MIND gives this advice; ‘Be gentle, generous and patient with yourself. It’s ok to prioritise what’s best for you – even if others don’t seem to understand. Think about what you need and how you might be able to get it. Consider talking to someone about what you need to cope.’
Whatever plans you make this Christmas, put your mental wellbeing at the top of your to-do list. Don’t suffer in silence, support is just a phone call away.
The Samaritans 116 123 (24hrs)
Northants Mental Health Navigators call 0800 488 0828 (24 hrs)
Volunteer Action 01832 275 433 MIND www.mind.org.uk
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