Hmmm, maybe not. While holidays are generally trumpeted as a time for cheer, get togethers, and celebrations, this isn’t always the case. For many holidays might be a time of grief, due to lost loved ones. Or a time of anxiety and depression with the extra stress of family get-togethers, gift giving, and increased financial burdens. For some, the holidays can be a very difficult time. If this is you, know that you are not alone, though you may feel like it. Many individuals feel this way. Below are some ideas to help manage and reduce some of the stressors related to the holiday season.
Grief, loss, and feeling alone:
Finding support-Connecting with others who might be experiencing similar feelings can make us feel less alone. This can be achieved through support groups, meetup.com groups, or even Facebook (FB) groups. Being able to talk about what we're going through with others can help us through our grief as well as realizing we are not as alone as we might feel.
Reaching out-Making contact with people who you are close to and making some plans around the holiday can help reduce feelings of loneliness and grief. These plans can be anything from going to an event such as a show or concert to simply planning a walk.
Volunteering-During the holiday season, volunteers are often needed in abundance.
Furthermore, helping others can not only make us feel good, it can help us make connections while making a difference in our community.
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm:
Take breaks-Often when we feel like we have no time to rest, is when it is most important to do so! Take breaks when you need them, even if it is just 5 minutes of breath work or choosing to stay home rather than attending an event. You could even just put your bare feet in the cold snow to help ground yourself and get out of your thoughts for a moment! (brrrr)
Pace yourself-Be sure to slow down (maybe while taking a break!) and check in with yourself. Maybe there are some things that can be dropped from the large to do list. Instead of trying to do everything at once, try spending an hour a day, or a few hours a few days, to minimize stress and anxiety.
Therapy-When we are already trying to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression, or other mental health concerns, the holidays can often amplify those symptoms. It can be a good time to find a mental health practitioner or if you already have one, maybe getting in an extra session.
Gift Giving:
Making a list and checking it twice-Lists can be helpful to organize your thoughts and give you a clearer picture of what's in your head. Who do you need to get gifts for? What are some ideas and where might you get the items? What is your budget and how much per person? Answering these questions on a list and checking items off as you do them can take some of the stress out of gift giving.
Make it easy-Don’t have a lot of time? Gift cards and money can make great gifts. While we might think there was not enough thought involved, sometimes our lives don’t allow for the time to find the “perfect gift” and gift cards can be a simple solution that allows others to get their own perfect gift.
Ways to save-If you are working within a budget, try shopping at some thrift stores, FB market place, or discount stores. Also, looking for items on sale either online or in stores. One might be surprised at some of the items at thrift shops, sometimes they are even brand new!
Home made gifts are the BEST-Okay, maybe not always. But homemade gifts can be thoughtful and come from the heart. There are lots of ideas out there on the interweb. Sites like Pinterest, FB, YouTube, and TicToc have many DIY gift ideas.
Dr. Beckie
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