Despite the long-held belief that the holiday season is one filled with love, laughter, and joy, the reality is that the holidays bring their fair share and stress, anxiety, depression, and conflict. While you cannot always avoid all the emotions and situations that arise during this wonderful time of year, you can apply practical techniques for handling the stress associated with the holiday season. Psycamore is here to make sure you have all the tools you need to have a relaxed, enjoyable time this year!
Tips for Managing Holiday Stress
While you can’t always avoid the stress that comes with the holidays, you can apply some practical tips that can help you manage your holiday stress effectively.
- Take care of yourself: It’s vital to get enough rest, eat healthy and consistently, and get physical activity. Maintaining your physical health can help your mental well-being in ways you never imagined.
- Make plans: Some of the stresses of the holidays come from over-planning or last minute commitment stress. If you create a schedule, you can better manage your commitments and avoid making too many plans that will ultimately create stress and wreak havoc on your daily life during the holidays. It’s okay to say no to some events and to pick and choose what you will attend or host over the busy holiday period.
- Be realistic: One of the most difficult things about the holidays is usually a result of expectations. The perfect holiday is not a reality and focusing on what matters to you the most rather than trying to create the perfect holiday or meet everyone else’s expectations can help you enjoy the holiday rather than stressing about it.
- Stay connected to yourself and others: It’s important to lean on your support group, vent when needed, and reach out for support from your reliable and true connections. It’s also vital to stay connected to your emotions and be aware of and realistic about how you’re feeling. It can help immeasurably to acknowledge the reality of how you feel, such as stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, lonely, or any other emotion that may arise during the holidays. Try to recognize what you’re feeling and analyze its effects on you. This will go a long way in helping you achieve the relief you deserve during this stressful time of year.
- Seek professional help: Many of these situations can drastically improve with the right support and speaking to a professional can make a world of difference. If your anxiety, stress, or depression is overwhelming and affecting your daily life, that is a sign that you need to speak with a professional therapist near you. Psycamore is your reliable source for anxiety and depression treatment in Jackson, Mississippi and surrounding areas. We have mental health treatment centers across Mississippi filled with licensed, experienced professionals who can help you work through what you are experiencing and the issues at hand. This can help you embrace the holidays and change the current dynamic so that you are in a better mental state during the holidays.
Take the first step toward the mental health support you deserve today and pave the pathway to a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season!