Often the color green is associated with positivity and mental health. During St. Patrick’s Day green is abundant everywhere to the point where a lack of green constitutes a “pinch” of consequence. However, the holiday can bring a lot of feelings for individuals who may be struggling with their mental health through this period and have experiences with substance use that may have them feeling intense FOMO due to the highlight of the celebration.
Let me introduce you to the three Gs of St. Patrick’s Day.
Get up. Get Grace. Get full.
Get up.
Our first G is as simple as that; get up. During this holiday take part in some traditions that incorporate physical activities. This helps improve your mental health as research indicates nature helps reduce anxiety, decrease feelings of stress and anger, decrease cortisol levels, and boost serotonin and dopamine production in the body. So, partake in your local parade or events. There is a St. Patrick’s Day Road race in Calgary, The Irish Cultural Society has an event, and many others. Also, the benefits of being around others provide the opportunity to not feel alone during this holiday and foster new connections. So, get up and get out there! You never know what will happen.
Get Grace.
Listen to yourself – do a gratitude journal. Practicing self-compassion and being kind to yourself increases our well-being. It is also okay to seek additional support to help you through this. Recognizing where you are at and being okay with that is a step for giving yourself grace during this holiday. There is no perfect way to celebrate or where you should be, but you are resilient where you are, and it is okay to plan ahead and be kind to yourself that things look different this year. Like the Shamrocks three leaves – faith, hope, and love can be attributed to self – faith in self, hope in self, and love towards self.
Get full.
Not just literally. However, it is important to incorporate your greens and work on your physical health. It is important to recognize your mental health during this period. Filling up your cup with interests and things that excite you is okay and so is engaging in what brings you joy and makes you feel good. It can feel like everyone is out celebrating, however, if you are wanting to stay inside and give yourself what you need you can still maintain your boundaries and celebrate in moderation.
Although this holiday can be a lot it is important to factor in that you are in the driver’s seat and are in control. Don’t be afraid to take the reins back fill yourself with what you need and incorporate the boundaries that help you feel fulfilled. There are many ways to celebrate and still meet your own needs. Remember as cheesy as it may sound you are very resilient and “lucky” people are very resilient.