EP 36: Stress, Depression and the Holidays: Tips for Coping with Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills

The holiday season is here and for many, the holidays are a fun and cheerful time of year.  Unfortunately for some, instead of cheerful celebrations, this holiday season may bring feelings of stress, loneliness, anxiety, or maybe even depression. The effects of the ongoing pandemic will no doubt affect how we celebrate the holidays this year.

That's why today's guests - Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills, two Harvard-trained psychiatrists and co-founders of Healthy Mind MDs, LLC – join the show to provide expert advice for those who will be alone for the holidays, for children who will experience a much different celebration, and for families dealing with the sadness of being away from loved ones this year.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in this episode:

• [03:10] This may be the first holiday season without loved ones. Undoubtedly, this will be a difficult time for many of us and especially our children.
• [07:04] Some of the disinformation is that people who have mental illnesses can’t live productive lives.
• [07:15] Another piece of disinformation is “I can’t access mental health treatment.” 
• [09:56] About 70% of Americans say the pandemic affected their stress levels significantly. All of us were dealing with stress in a certain way.
• [10:20] I’m just glad that the nation is willing to engage in a more productive conversation about mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness.  
• [11:45] Everyone is in a different situation vis-à-vis the pandemic. Different people have different beliefs about whether or not the pandemic is happening. 
• [12:08] Respect other people’s views. Respect other’s opinions about the pandemic but also make the decisions for ourselves.
• [14:16] Recognizing and having empathy is an excellent way to start those conversations.
• [15:04] Everybody’s situation about the holidays is unique and different. You need to weigh what’s going on in your life.
• [15:54] Be clear, be polite, insert humor. Keep it focused on safety — safety for yourself and for your household.
• [16:36 ] Ask your child what do they know. A lot of children have disinformation. A lot of them are thoughtful and have learned a lot about the pandemic.
• [16:53] Talk to your kid when you’re not multi-tasking.
• [17:04] You want to talk to the child where they are at their developmental age and stage.
• [19:55] Start and have a plan. Take those 3 days and figure out how you want to spoil yourself. 
• [20:48] Honor the fact that you may be feeling alone or the fact that you may be feeling lonely.
• [21:20 ] Take charge of that day. Be proactive and really challenge yourself to make use of the downtime that we have during the pandemic.
• [22:02] Rates of adoption from SPCA have gone up for pets. If you’re a pet person, thinking of getting a pet at this time, and you’re single, and living alone, this is a great idea. 
• [22:59] We want to be connected. Being alone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re alone shutting your apartment and feeling lonely.
• [27:06] We have to be creative right now. We’re in a whole new territory.
• [27:43] Empower the elderly in our lives to stay abreast of the facts about the pandemic. Do whatever they can do to help their immune systems.
• [35:46] There are so many benefits from getting out into nature. It’s not just about exercise. It’s the connectedness that you feel in nature. 

 

Links mentioned in this episode:

FREE Holiday Smoothie Recipe Book - Get it here!

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Trudy Stone YouTube Channel

 

Healthy Mind MDs

Understanding Mental Illness - BUY THE BOOK!

 

Understanding Mental Illness book on Amazon

 

Dr. Marketa Wills - Instagram

 

Dr. Carlin Barnes - Instagram

 

Dr. Carlin Barnes Website

 

Blogs on Psychology Today by Dr. Wills and Dr. Barnes