There is a dominant impression that many of us have that suicide somehow spikes at the winter holidays. Fortunately this turns out to be just a myth -- though there is an increase in suicide after the holidays -- perhaps in part because of the general letdown after a period of increased stress, combined with frequently crummy weather and potentially mounting financial pressure from holiday overspending. Even if suicide didn't peak anywhere near this time of year, it's still worth looking at what can be done to help people feeling the pressure and stress of the holiday season. Combat veterans (and their families) face special stresses at holiday times, including increased time with family and friends, often increased exposure to alcohol and drugs, and the special pangs of realizing loved ones -- combat buddies -- are no longer with them or able to celebrate the holidays with their own families (survivor's guilt).
Fortunately there are some decent resources out there for lending a hand. First off, the generic but helpful ones; secondly, the more veteran-specific ones.
Good, generic advice:
- "Ten Tips for Coping with Holiday Stress"
- "How to Remain Sober and Healthy During the Holiday Season"
- "Dealing with Grief in the Holiday Season"
An excellent one on "Coping with a Family Member's PTSD During the Holidays;" and
Veteran-specific advice:
- Article by a Vietnam-era vet, who tried to kill himself on his first Thanksgiving back after combat. He's got a very interesting point of view in this article. One of the things he says is that since he arrived in Vietnam first on Christmas morning, it was hard for him for years afterward to ever have a good Christmas. He covers all the big topics from his point of view, including anger, flashbacks/hallucinations, fear, dread, hyper-vigilance, anxiety, intimacy issues, drug and alcohol abuse, avoidance/immersion, sleep disorders, guilt, memory loss/cognitive dysfunction, intrusive thoughts, and depression. Pretty good stuff, and he definitely can relate. He also talks about "anniversary reactions," which is another important topic in the discussion of veterans and combat trauma.
- Patience Mason's wonderful advice for veterans and their families. This is a link to an article specifically on "PTSD and the Holidays," and it's quite comprehensive and excellent. She also covers the anniversary reaction the veteran may be having, and talks about how to create a healthy balance between who can handle what at the holidays, without fostering resentment and anger between the veteran and his or her loved ones. Excellent stuff, again from someone who can relate.
