(ROCKLAND COUNTY) November 9, 2022 – Holidays are supposed to be a time full of joy, happiness, and family gatherings, but many factors make this time equally stressful: unrealistic expectations, commercialization, financial constraints, carrying on traditions, and most importantly time restraints. Wrapped up in shiny paper with each one of these factors is gift-giving. It can be exhausting to identify the people you want to give to, figure out the ideal gift, shop for it in person or online and then worry that it won’t be enough or that the person might need to return it. All of these things put stress on our budgets and our brains, making the holidays challenging and putting a damper on some of the fun. Holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, happiness, and family gatherings.
Tara Brock, Rockland Behavioral Health Response Team’s Home-Based Crisis Intervention Coordinator for Rockland County, will share tips on how to handle stress, be kind to ourselves, accept flaws, and, most importantly, have fun during the holidays. According to Brock saying ‘No’ to expensive gift requests and events that are too difficult to attend is completely okay. It is important for everyone to find time for self-care, identify positive moments, look at the positive aspects and take breaks to increase the enjoyment of the holiday season.
Brock believes that communication is the key to a happy household. In the upcoming free Zoom session on November 16th at 6pm, she will share advice on encouraging kids and adults to talk about their positive events and their stressors of the day and how to encourage family members and children to prioritize their self-care journey. Among her most important tips is making a list of all the holiday traditions your family loves, and then choosing the ones to follow and skipping the others. This way everyone participates in the process. Another tip: Make a budget for gift-giving that works for your family and suggest making at least one homemade gift this year.
Brock will also talk about keeping a daily routine for exercise and healthy eating during the holidays, setting up realistic and attainable goals, and creating a shared schedule for all the family members so everyone is on the same page.
To register for the free Zoom, click here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvf-ihpjgiH93AaQ-4kptCjlwmIqjIDnip
About The Rockland Behavioral Health Response Team
BHRT has an experienced team of mental health professionals capable of responding immediately to requests for assistance or intervention with any behavioral health issue ranging from serious emotional crisis to seeking guidance for behavioral health support. The team will conduct a basic needs assessment and provide referrals to mental health providers and agencies to ensure that individuals and families receive the ongoing care they need. They can also come to your home or place of work to assist if necessary. If immediate additional support is needed, the BHRT team members will arrange transportation to the most appropriate facility. BHRT works collaboratively with all Rockland hospitals, mental health agencies, and first response agencies to ensure the most appropriate care. The program is free of charge through a grant from the NYS Office of Mental Health through Rockland County. For more information, visit www.rocklandhelp.org