Turn2Me – taking the stress out of Christmas
The festive season, often painted as a joyful time, can bring significant stress, anxiety, and loneliness for many. With pressures ranging from financial worries to social obligations, the need for accessible mental health support has never been greater.
The Mental Health Charity Turn2Me is urging people to make use of its free online mental health services in the lead-up to Christmas. The organisation offers a range of services, including online support groups, where people can connect with others facing similar challenges and feel less alone during the season.
Turn2Me has highlighted the impact of stress on our physical as well as mental health, noting that poverty, trauma, general pressure from the demands of life, and more can all have an impact on stress levels.
“Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances,” said Suzanne Ennis, Clinical Manager at Turn2Me.
“Chronic stress leads to serious health problems because it disrupts nearly every system in your body. Part of what makes chronic stress so insidious is its ability to become a 'normal' feeling, it becomes the familiar,” she added.
Taking all of these points on board – the following tips from the charity are designed to help us all attain and maintain a relaxed state for optimum mental health:
Relaxation Techniques: These are activities that trigger the relaxation response, a physiological change that can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen consumption, and stress hormones. These can include yoga, deep breathing and stretching.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is based on the idea that changing unhealthy thinking can change your emotions. A CBT therapist will help you identify negative thinking and learn to automatically replace it with healthy or positive thoughts, reducing stress.
Realistic Goal Setting: Setting goals can have a positive effect, provide one with a sense of commitment, feel they're in control, and are optimistic. Setting goals in your career, relationships, creativity, play, and health can really help manage stress.
Exercise Regularly: In addition to having physical health benefits, exercise has been shown to be a powerful stress reliever. Exercise releases endorphins—natural chemicals that help you feel better and maintain a positive attitude.
Daily Reflection: Conduct daily check-ins, by asking yourself how you are. What do you need to help yourself? When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remind yourself of what you do well. Try to have a healthy sense of self.
Prioritise Yourself: The more your actions reflect your beliefs, the better you will feel, no matter how busy your life is. It’s okay to say “No” to demands on your time and energy that will place too much stress on you. You don’t always have to meet the expectations of others.
Know where to turn: Get to know what mental health supports and services are available. Speak with a GP about what might be available locally. Many services are open 24/7 and you can make contact in different ways, for example:
• on the phone – Samaritans, visit www.samaritans.ie or Freephone 116 123
• by text message – Text50808, text Hello to 50808
• online – visit www.mymind.org or www.turn2me.ie
• face-to-face – Pieta, visit www.pieta.ie or Freephone 1800 247 247.
You can also call the HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line, anytime day or night, for information on what other services and supports are available near you – Freephone 1800 111 888 or visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie
Turn2Me provides free, professional mental health services online, including free counselling sessions, support groups, and helpful tools like guided meditations and mood tracking. They have daily support groups online over the Christmas period on topics such as family issues, bereavement, feeling alone, feeling down to name a few.
These services are available to anyone in Ireland, offering a lifeline to those who may feel overwhelmed by the holiday season. More details can be found on their website: