10 ways to find emotional support for the holidays

This is part of a series of stories about how you can use the myStrength wellness portal and app to enhance your emotional well-being. In this installment, Ayzha Corbett, manager of Johns Hopkins' mySupport Program and a clinician, offers 10 ways to find emotional support for the holidays.

For many people, holidays mean good cheer, family gatherings, traditions, and shopping. For others, the holidays are tough for a number of reasons. Many find themselves feeling disappointment, guilt, sadness, grief, anxiety, and stress. And now, this time of year is also layered with issues related to COVID-19. These are challenges and stressors that haven't been encountered before. People have maintained physical distance, home-schooled kids, quarantined, worked from home, and stayed connected with loved ones mostly virtually. Therefore, the holidays are sure to look different for all.

In last month's myStrength article, suggestions were offered for handling changed plans and disappointment during the holidays. Those tips included checking your expectations, feeling your feelings, finding gratitude, giving thanks, and accepting change. In this article, additional support will be outlined for you to share with co-workers, family, and friends. Here are 10 ways to find emotional support for the holidays:

1. Listen to one of these holiday on-demand webinars:

• Ways to Stay Safe and Still Find Joy and Meaning in the Holidays During COVID-19
• Another COVID-19 Challenge: Dealing With Loneliness During the Holiday Season

2. Join a live webinar at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, to speak with a mySupport clinician and learn more about healthy and unhealthy coping skills for the holidays and the new year. Register here.

3. Listen to the Think Tank podcast on worrying less and enjoying the holiday season.

4. Volunteer your free time. Being supportive to others is a useful way to reduce feelings of sadness. Get involved in your area today.

5. Ask for support and take it. Make an inventory of your support system and find new and unique ways to connect with those closest to you. If you are in need of something—a listening ear or some company—communicate your request and take up those around you on their offers to be helpful and supportive.

6. Talk to someone. Reach out to get professional support. Mental health experts are ready to help provide additional assistance to you during the holidays. Clinicians at mySupport can help you process depression, anxiety, grief, and loss. Call today at 443-997-7000, option 2.

7. Look forward to the new year. Finding hope in the start of the new year could be another way to support yourself during the holidays. Make a list of all the things that you are looking forward to in 2021.

8. Download the myStrength app. It's a free resource to support the emotional well-being of Johns Hopkins employees and their household family members. One especially useful feature of the myStrength app is that it lets you track your well-being with a regular emotional health "check-in." In addition, an entire module is dedicated to improving the moment; it speaks about smiling as a way to support yourself and improve your outlook during the holidays. To download, visit mystrength.com and create an account using JHU as the access code. Download the app in the Apple or Google Play store, log in, and enjoy support at your fingertips.

9. If you are concerned about yourself, or someone else, experiencing grief, anxiety, stress, depression, or disappointment as we continue through the holiday season, professional support is available 24/7 to employees and their household family members through Johns Hopkins' mySupport program by calling 443-997-7000, option 2, or clicking here to schedule an appointment.

10. Now, during the pandemic, how you support yourself and your well-being is critical. MySupport's webinars can help you navigate loneliness and find joy during the holidays. Learn more about mySupport here.