Mental Health Boost for the Holidays

One Mental Boost That Costs Nothing: Giving

"This year, all I can afford to give everyone is a hug."

This is a recent social media post I saw, highlighting how most of us have felt in recent years. With the economic recession and the rising costs of everyday living, many of us may have feelings of dread arise as we look upon the coming holidays. I know I sure do.

It's times like these when I remind myself to examine my expectations of what my giving "should" look like.

Giving is an act that shows you were thinking of another human being. That's it, in its simplicity.

When we give, it releases feel-good chemicals of oxytocin, serotonin, and (the ADHD favorite): dopamine! Giving lights up our reward and pleasure parts of our brain.

It also builds a sense of trust and community, things we are all still trying to recover post-COVID. Studies have shown that giving has been consistently found to increase self-esteem and life satisfaction. (https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/02/003.html)

In fact, giving is something I challenge almost every depressed client with at some point. Giving has the power to pull us out of our heads and into our environment, which can be very helpful in increasing a sense of control in our lives. It creates purpose, which is a lifeline when you are feeling depressed or anxious.

Physically, it can also decrease our blood pressure and even increase our lifespan!

So, how do I give with no money?

Here are some ideas:

1. Give a Handwritten Note or Letter- write it on a scrap of paper if you want!

2. Donate Anything!- person-to-person feels extra good!

3. Make something- Maybe I'm the only one with a closet of craft supplies, but pull out the glue and popsicle sticks! We love it when our kids make us stuff, and true friends and family are no different.

4. Give your Time- show up to an important event, or simply catch up on the ins and outs of one another's lives in loving kindness. It may be exactly what the doctor ordered for you both! You can also donate your time to working with a charity, putting together collected donations.

5. Give Your Skills- offer what you are good at (with boundaries!). Maybe you can't give a brand new car to each one of our family members, but maybe you can use your decorating skills to help their living room look fabulous, or help them get through a challenging level on the video gave they've been stuck on! The possibilities are endless.

Mica Denman, CSW

Mica@LighthouseMHCounsleing.com

385-237-4943