Mission Mater's Magazine - Flipbook - Page 14
It is no surprise that a festival which involves decorations, lights, feasting and socialising happens
at the darkest, coldest and most miserable time of the year
Cheers without Tears!
As a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital, one of the questions
Prof. Matthew Sadlier gets frequently asked in this season is, 8Christmas,
must be a busy time for you?9
I
always find being asked the above
unusual, as I would have thought the
general perception of Christmas was
one of joy and happiness rather than one of
distress. Thankfully my work experience
would suggest that as well. Christmas is
actually one of the quietest times of the
year!
It is no surprise that a festival which involves decorations, lights,
feasting and socialising happens at the darkest, coldest and most
miserable time of the year.
For anyone who is a Christmas sceptic I always ask 8What do you think
the middle of winter would be like without it?9 Working in mental
health for so long it is lovely to see how families do genuinely come
together and put old arguments aside. For those who unfortunately are
without families, the work that Day Centres, Charities and other
organisations do, to create a sense of something special always amazes
me.
Unfortunately, that does not apply to everyone and while referrals for
distress are lower at this time of year, they are not zero. Some people
for various reasons do struggle, due to the combination of the effects
of winter and the memories that Christmas can bring.
This can be exacerbated by alcohol and
increasingly other substances which affect our
thinking and emotions. If I have any advice to
anyone it always is that you should only drink
alcohol when you have a 8clear head9 and you
are in safe company.
Small quantities of alcohol can have a general
relaxing effect; however, even moderate levels
of alcohol effects our minds by blocking our
psychological inhibitory abilities. If, for
example, our team has just won the
championship, alcohol aided lack of inhibition
can amplify the joy and celebrations and make
for a wonderful night. However, if we are
struggling with something such as an
argument with a family member or feelings of
distress and disappointment, that
psychological inhibition might be what is
keeping our moods in check. Adding alcohol
to that mental state even though it
instinctively feels like it might relax us, can
just amplify the distress.
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