Making it Through the Holidays
By: Dilini Dharmawardana, LMFT
The holidays are a stressful time for everybody! Being around family and having so much time with them can cause stress. Holidays also cause stress because of the stress of present buying, cooking meals for tons of family members, and decorating the house as well as tree. Stress can lead to physical and medical problems that can cause more difficulties. So, let’s find ways to help you manage the holidays better.
Tip #1: Find Different Ways to Relax
Take deep breaths, count to ten, and be more mindful. Taking deep breaths helps people to relax. Count to ten and find a way to release your anger if you’re feeling it towards family members. Being more mindful can help you to fully enjoy your present moment with your family and friends. So, in stressful times taking deep breaths can help you to relax and feel more at ease. Family, friends, cooking, and decorating can be stressful and make the holidays an unhappy time. So, make sure you have skills in place to help you be more calm and at ease.
Tip #2: Engage in Self-Care
Self-care is an important part of the holidays because engaging in self-care can keep you grounded. Self-care is essential for anyone who struggles with managing their emotions. Take a bubble bath, write in your journal, color in a coloring book, and hang out with friends to be more aware of where you stand and who you are. Self-care will help you maintain your sanity during the holidays. So, engage in self-care as much as you can during the holiday season to be level headed and calm.
Tip #3: Be Yourself
During the stressful times, being yourself is important. When you’re stressed staying true to who you are can be difficult. Stress 
can cause you to overreact or get angry when you don’t mean to, which can be hard to deal with. Life is tough and being true to yourself can be difficult as well. So, stay true to who you are in this crazy world and during this crazy upcoming holiday season.
The holidays are a stressful and hectic time for everybody and knowing how to manage that stress is important to your well-being. Try your best to manage your anxiety and enjoy the holidays as best you can. Don’t be overwhelmed by the holidays because the holidays are supposed to be a time of enjoyment, family, friends, and fun. If you find the holidays overly stressful or too stressful that you can’t handle it, contact a therapist today!
