With so much planning, time and preparation in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is no wonder that so many people end up with symptoms of stress at Christmas. How you deal with the symptoms before they develop further can have a massive impact on your recovery.
What can cause Christmas stress?
- Spending much more money than usual
- The expectation to socialise
- Loneliness
- Grief or sadness can be heightened
- Additional shopping, cooking and cleaning ready for the big day
- Family arguments
- Social pressure to have the “best” Christmas
Stress can be caused by one or a number of things and the above list is not exhaustive. Christmas is a time of year when the pressures can be heightened. As you strive to provide a perfect Christmas day for your friends and family, don’t ignore the signs. Your Christmas stress levels could really be heightened.
Symptoms of stress?
- Headaches
- Nausea, vomiting
- Dizziness, palpitations
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Hyper sensitivity to noise
- Anger
- Impatience
- Worrying
- Forgetfulness
- Poor concentration
Again, the symptoms that each person experiences could be a combination of any of the above and could vary at different times. If you have never suffered with stress before, you may be surprised at the physiological symptoms stress can present.
The above information has been sourced from https://www.priorygroup.com
Where can you get help?
Private treatment for stress related issues
There are a vast number of private specialists who could help you to combat your stress and depending on the level of stress you are feeling will depend on the level of help that you need.
If you have private medical insurance or a health cash plan there is every chance you will have access to free 24/7 helplines which could help you if you feel you need to talk to someone straight away.
If you have mental health cover on your policy you could access Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or similar therapy treatments. Some even offer unlimited cover for mental health problems so whether you need to see a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist you will have access to professional services without a lengthy waiting time.
Help via a charity for stress related issues
There are many charities in the UK who can provide access to help for people who are suffering with mental health issues including stress.
One of the best known of these is Mind who offer advice and support to anyone with a mental health problem. They do have confidential helplines however they are not available 24/7 currently and in an emergency situation they do recommend that you go to your nearest A & E or call NHS 111.
Mind have a host of celebrity ambassadors including Beverley Callard of Coronation Street Fame and Singer/Songwriter, George Ezra.
Stephen Fry has been the president of Mind since back in 2011 and campaigns tirelessly for everyone who experiences mental health problems.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Help via the NHS for stress related issues
The NHS website offers some great information relating to the symptoms and treatment of stress and some great self-help ideas. They also offer CBT which you can access without having a referral from your GP.
Via the website they provide a whole number of helplines relating to mental health and related conditions where people can access assistance from registered charities within the UK.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
Help via mobile phone apps
There are a number of mobile phone apps available to download giving you additional help to cope with stress and anxiety.
Below are a small selection of the well-known anxiety apps, there are many more available and it may be worth having a look at a few to make sure you choose the most appropriate option.
Headspace ∙ Rootd ∙ Stop panic and anxiety Self Help ∙ Calm ∙ Stop, breathe and think
If you would like to know whether your private medical insurance has cover for stress, mental health or any psychiatric related conditions, the team at SMP Healthcare can help you go through your policy benefits.
If you are looking for a new health insurance policy and want to make sure that you have cover for claims of this type, please contact us and we will help you find a policy that fulfills your requirements.
Telephone: 01245 929129/ 0800 047 0127
Email: enquiries@smphealthcare.com