Danielle Nelson is a practicing therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who focuses on sexual health and wellness, trauma and recovery, self-esteem and resilience building, and general mental health concerns. Though Danielle is a trained professional, this column is not a substitute for advice or care provided by your licensed medical or health care professional.
A Mardi Gras Care Plan
A client once described Carnival season as “if Mercury in retrograde was a holiday.” Think: missed calls, mixed messages, abandoned plans, and relentless glitter. Chaos, my friends. I’m literally typing this with a hot glue gun burn on my finger—a costume casualty. There are many paths toward Carnival burnout. Maybe yours is socializing to the point of exhaustion or making “reckless abandon” your new baseline. Whatever it is, here are a few ways to take care of yourself and find balance.
Le Bon Temps Fundamentals
Carnival is indulgent. It’s supposed to be. There’s a reason it’s followed by a hard slide into atonement. So, if you’re lavishly marathoning through Carnival, treat yourself like the hedonistic athlete you are. You must sleep, eat, and drink with purpose.
Sleep and Rest
Honor and commit to naps. Naps are the ultimate pre-mid-and-after party. It’s also completely OK (and psyche-preserving) to leave early. Tomorrow You is real. Don’t ruin their lovely day in exchange for another couple hours. If you find that out of nowhere the sun is coming up, I’d like you to find a safe place to lie horizontally, relax, and blink slowly.
Eat
Eat before you go. Yes, even if there’s supposed to be food where you’re headed. You never know what kind of traffic delay, parking nightmare, or human error might derail your plans. Do this now and thank yourself later: Grab salty, delicious, high-protein snacks to have around. Nuts, cheese and crackers, edamame, roasted chickpeas, and jerky are all good options.
Hydrate
For the love of Bacchus: Hydrate. If you’re not peeing, as inconvenient as it may seem on the parade route, you’re not hydrated. One adult drink matched with one water is a trusted rule. Bedside water is a must. Water will restore you. Trust.
Check In with Your People
What kind of experience do you want? If you’re planning to be with others for Mardi Gras, this is an excellent time to talk about expectations—or lack thereof. You might want to be a free agent with looser relationship boundaries than usual. Or maybe you’re envisioning a tight-knit Mardi Gras spent celebrating alongside your person—tell them what you have in mind. Even if the plan is to not have a plan, let your people know. Better to manage expectations now than while arguing in the middle of the street on Mardi Gras Day. We’ve all seen or been this couple. I don’t want that for you.
Parading, like Wu-Tang, is for the Children
Whether you’re on the neutral ground or sidewalk side, there are probably gonna be kids around. Be mindful of your surroundings and be generous. For example, if you have an unobstructed view of the floats, maybe step back and let the kids have a front row seat to the magic. If you catch a pair of light-up beads, a stray frisbee, or toy of any kind, consider giving it to the kids around you. Even if you’re hidden behind the great wall of ladders, remember that enjoying the moment with your community is what it’s about. Your kindness might prevent you from becoming a villain in some kid’s core Carnival memory.
Sensory Overload
When the sound system is all treble, the person next to you (and their oversized drink) has completely invaded your personal space, and the smell of funnel cake isn’t so sweet anymore, meditating might seem absurd. But it can be done. One way is to do a body scan, which is a meditation practice you can do just about anywhere. You can do it where you are, or in an area where you feel more safe. Relax, take several long, deep breaths, and starting with the top of your head (or toes) move mentally through each part of your body and notice any sensation—warmth, tingling, tension, etc. If you find tension, without judgement, breathe into that spot and allow it to soften or release with each exhale. When you’re through, take a few deep breaths and re-center yourself. This is when I like to focus on the good stuff: the artistic detailing on the float, the impressive architecture of the homemade headdress of the man across the way, the young couple holding hands while the parents are distracted. There’s good all around you.
Hangovers and Mental Health
Waking up hungover can feel like your brain is opening every emotional tab at once. First things first: This is not a moral failing. This is dehydration and a frayed nervous system. Resist the urge to ruminate. Before you mentally review every conversation you had like it’s evidence in a federal trial, drink water. Then, drink more water. Then eat something substantial—king cake alone is a trap, don’t fall for it. Avoid social media and re-reading texts until your cortisol levels are back to something resembling human. In fact, silence your phone for a while. Finally: Lower your expectations for the day. Allow your goals to simply be resting, hydrating, and not making any life decisions until you feel like yourself again. And you will. This too shall pass.
Worth Consideration
This might not be your year. Maybe you’re just not feeling it. Give yourself permission to travel, take the year off, or mix up your routine. Volunteering is a great way to participate, socialize, and feel connected to the community. There are several sustainability (Grounds Krewe), health (New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps), and safety (NOLA Ready) initiatives in need of help. It’s also OK to say no. Carnival will be back next year—on a very early 9th of February, 2027.
If you need to speak to someone right away, call 504-269-COPE (2673). The COPE crisis line provides free, confidential crisis counseling, suicide prevention and information, and mental health referral services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Illustrations by Romey Petite
