Article published on: Monday, 08 December 2025
Whether or not Christmas is part of your life, it’s a time of year that often puts extra pressure on us and can affect our mental health in lots of different ways.
If Christmas is a hard time for you, it’s important to remember that you are not alone.
Below are some suggestions from Bucks Mind colleagues and national Mind that could help you cope during the Christmas period.
Think about what might be difficult about Christmas for you, and if there’s anything that may help you cope. For example:
- If you’re going to be somewhere unfamiliar for Christmas, think about what you need to help you cope. For example, things you can bring to make you feel more comfortable. Or somewhere you can go to take a break.
- If having a routine is important to you, try to include as much of your regular routine in your Christmas plans as you can. This could help prevent you feeling too disrupted. Or you could slowly introduce Christmas activities to your routine, rather than do them all at once.
- If you sometimes experience flashbacks, panic attacks or dissociation, make a note of what helps during these moments and keep it with you.
- Certain places may feel very uncomfortable for you, for example if they bring back difficult memories. If possible, you could plan to spend less time in difficult places, or not go at all.
- Think about whether you really need to do things if you’re not looking forward to them. It may be that you can do them for less time, or in a different way.
- Pharmacies can be closed on certain days over the Christmas period. If you take medication, make sure you have enough for the whole period.
- If you’re worried about feeling lonely or isolated this Christmas, think of ways to help pass the time. For example, this might be doing something creative or spending time in nature.
- If you’re in hospital or a care home, see what activities might be running over Christmas that you might want to take part in.
- If you can’t be with the people you want to see in person, you could arrange a phone or video call to catch up with them on Christmas Day. Or try to arrange a visit around Christmas, if there’s a time when it’s possible to meet.
- Try out some new traditions if any of your previous traditions don’t feel possible this year. For example, if they’re too expensive, or too difficult because of a bereavement. These new ideas could be a one-off, or they could become part of Christmas in future.
- Make a list of any services that you might need and their Christmas opening hours. For Bucks Mind’s services opening hours and details of community support available during the festive period, please click the button below.
- Try to plan something nice to do after Christmas. Having something to look forward to next year could make a real difference.
- If other people’s questions are difficult, you could try to think of some answers in advance. For example, about your plans or how you’re doing.
- Think about how to end difficult conversations. It’s ok to tell someone you don’t want to talk about something, or to change the subject. It might help to practise what you’ll say.
- Suggest an activity or an easy way to move on, if you want to end an unwanted conversation. For example, this could be playing a game or taking a screen break if you’re on a video call.
- Talk about your plans in advance. It might help to agree on things such as budgets or timings beforehand. For example, you could agree not to give presents this year or decide a set amount to spend.
- If other people don’t seem to understand how you’re feeling, you could share this information with them. You could also think about writing down how you’re feeling and sharing this with them, if conversations are difficult.
- It’s ok if there are people you don’t want to see at Christmas. If you can’t avoid spending time with them, try to think of ways to keep a distance while you’re there.
Talking to other people
- Bucks Safe Haven and East Berkshire Safe Haven provide out-of-hours mental health support and always want to hear from you. Bucks Safe Haven is open 7 nights a week, 6pm-midnight, every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. East Berkshire Safe Haven is open Thursday to Sunday, 5pm-11pm, throughout the festive period.
- Let people know if you’re struggling. It can help to talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. See national Mind’s page talking to friends and family for tips.
- You could join an online community to talk others who have similar experiences to yours. National Mind’s online community Side by Side is a safe place to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.
- Tell people what they can do to help and let them know if there’s anything they could avoid doing. For example, let them know about any activities you’d like to be involved in and how they can support you during Christmas. Or you could tell them any topics you find hard to discuss, so they can avoid asking.
- You don’t have to justify yourself to others. But you might feel pressure to, especially if someone asks a lot of questions. It could help to let them know that certain situations are difficult for you and tell them what they can do to help. It might also help to tell them that you understand they may see things in a different way.
- You might not be able to make others understand. But try to remember it’s not your responsibility to convince other people or get their permission to look after yourself.
Getting support
If you’re struggling this Christmas, you may want to find support for your mental health. There are a few ways that you can do this:
- Bucks Safe Haven (out-of-hours mental health support for anyone aged 18+) is open 7 nights a week, 6.00pm-12.00 midnight(closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day only). Aylesbury: 01296 453017. HighWycombe call: 01494 218098
- East Berkshire Safe Haven (out-of-hours mental health support for anyone aged 18+) is open Thursday to Sunday, 5pm-11pm (including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Call: 07790 772863
- Call Samaritans on 116 123 (freephone). Their English language line is always open.
- Text SHOUT to 85258. This is a free 24/7 crisis text service run by Shout.
For more information and advice about Christmas and mental health, including supporting someone else, please click the button below.
Christmas and Mental Health