The celebrations are set to begin as Australians wind-down and workplaces close, but the forced break and family time can exacerbate underlying stressors, increasing the risk of relapse.
The festive season can be hard to navigate for anyone, especially if you’re living with addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, strained relationships, broken families or financial pressures.
Everything from festive events to Christmas decorations can be triggering, causing a minefield of emotions.
This was the case for our general manager of lived experience, John Knights.
John was a senior investment banker with a law and commerce degree who found himself as an inpatient in a hospital seeking help for alcohol dependency and depression.
After many years sober, he found himself again seeking hospitalisation – this time as a proactive measure to prevent a relapse into addiction or more acute depression over the Christmas and holiday period.
“With the structure and adrenaline of the year gone, Christmas made me collapse in a heap,” says John.
“The pressure valve is released, you’re forced into downtime, and this can really highlight stress points.
“For me, it meant my coping mechanism of being a workaholic was gone and my fallback was alcohol.”
Many people self-admit in the lead-up to Christmas or a known stressful event. But for those who are facing the festive season at home, support is crucial.
John says being ‘selfish’ is key.
“When you are put under the added pressure of ‘being festive’, things can escalate quickly and you can find yourself in a very dark place,” he says.
“At Avive, we focus on creating ‘toolkits’ so that you have layers of support, but if you don’t have those professional and community relationships in place, it can feel like you’re on very unsteady ground.”
Avive Clinic Mornington Peninsula is a 60-bed, purpose-built private mental health hospital, offering fully private rooms with ensuites and delivering psychiatrist-led inpatient and outpatient programs for people experiencing addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma and burnout. The hospital has received industry recognition for its therapeutic landscaping, and its clinical programs have been nominated for national awards.
Located at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, the clinic is approximately 50 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and 20 minutes from the Bayside corridor, providing discreet access to specialist care away from the pressures of city life.
“One of the reasons Avive Mornington Peninsula is so effective at this time of year is the environment,” Mr Knights said.
“Being just outside Melbourne, in a calm and private setting, allows people to step away from triggers, reset safely and focus on recovery – particularly during high-risk periods like Christmas.
“It’s important to remember, the festive season can be tough even for people who aren’t recovering from mental challenges or addiction. Be kind on yourself and remember that reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
Email [email protected] or phone 1800 284 830
Please note: This information is general in nature and does not replace advice from your health professional.
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