Oakland County Shares Holiday Mental Health Tips
(OCCMHA, Dec. 15, 2016)
The holiday season can be filled with excitement, joy, and hope. However, the holidays can also bring added stress, anxiety, or depression into our lives. The intense demands, unrealistic expectations or even memories of lost loved ones that accompany the season can overwhelm us at this time of year. Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) offers these helpful tips to enhance your psychological well-being:
~Set aside time for yourself. Go for a walk, get a massage, listen to your favorite music or read a new book.
~Don’t isolate yourself. If you feel lonely or isolated, spend time with supportive, caring people and find community, religious or other social events to attend.
~Stick to normal routines as much as possible and don’t abandon healthy habits. Eat and drink in moderation and get plenty of sleep.
~Set reasonable expectations and goals for holiday activities such as shopping, cooking, entertaining, attending parties or sending holiday cards. Remember that you’re only one person and there is only so much you can do.
~Set (and stick to) a budget for holiday activities. Before you go gift or food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend.
~Volunteer your time to help others. Find a local charity, such as a soup kitchen or a shelter that needs volunteers and offer to help.
~Talk about your worries and concerns with close friends and family. If you need help, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
About OCCMHA
Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 27,000 Oakland County residents, including adults and children with developmental disabilities or  substance use disorders; adults with serious mental illness; and children with serious emotional disturbance.
OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.