How to Survive the Holiday Season

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year “ for the majority of people, but for those suffering from anxiety or any form of Mental illness, it can also be the hardest time emotionally.

Making plans with family and friends, and the pressure of what to buy for gifts can be all too much for anyone. I know I certainly get overwhelmed, yet on the whole, I'm pretty good at juggling everything.

Before the Anxiety starts to spiral out of control, it’s important to do something about what's causing you to feel this way and before you become powerless to do anything about it. To be able to enjoy the holiday season, “YOU” have to put yourself first and work plans around “how you are feeling.” Christmas is not always what we watch on television and what you see through social media, in reality, it is much different, and this is important to remember.

So here are a few things we have done to help Chelsea through the season:

Making a List……and checking it twice.

I'm a huge one for lists, and this has helped in many situations. One of the biggest causes of anxiety for Chelsea is having too much on her mind. Getting her to write down all the people she would like to buy gifts for and who she wants to hand cards to. By being able to write it all down, she hopefully can feel some relief and then as time goes on, checking off the list helps to reduce the stress of how much she still has to do.

Shopping

No one enjoys the crowded shops this time of year, especially anyone with Anxiety. So taking Chelsea shopping back in November was a huge help, but it is not always this easy for others. So buying through the internet is a fabulous resource and many of the shops have free delivery if you spend a certain amount of money or even in-store pick up – which means you literally have to walk in – collect – pay – and walk out…..now who does not like that!!

Set Boundaries and Communication

Don’t try to please everyone. Knowing that Chelsea can say “NO” means she won’t necessarily over-commit and become overwhelmed. When committing to everything, she is opening herself up to guilt and being upset at herself for letting others down. It is essential that Chelsea set boundaries and communicate everything that may make her anxious. This can drastically reduce the Emotional Overload she can be feeling.

-Practise saying NO and only commit to the events that are important to her and where she knows that she can enjoy herself. If she wants to leave, she will feel comfortable at doing so without any guilt.

Distraction – Rest and Mindfulness.

Remember to use your tools when the going gets tough. Breathing techniques, or name 5 things you see etc. Breathing....not just for everyday life!!! However, it could just be as simple as cutting out snowflakes, which you will find is surprisingly therapeutic. Lighting a holiday scented candle or using a diffuser with your favourite essential oil. Take a moment to breathe in the scent. At this time of year, Chelsea loves her diffuser from Saje. Diffusers -Aroma Gem Chrome

~ It's imperative that Chelsea gets plenty of downtime and sleep during this period. Feeling tired can lead to her becoming overwhelmed and less able to cope. We often watch her favourite film or TV show. It's essential that she practises some self-preservation and is kind to herself and spending time in her pyjamas is a great way to relax.

~Practising Mindfulness helps her stay grounded through the holiday season and every day. Although she does find this challenging, however in time, I hope that it will help her and that it will come naturally.

Exercise

It can be hard to exercise in the winter when the temperature has dropped and its snowing or raining, but no matter the weather, she needs to do something. When anxiety is building in her body, one of the best things she can do is exercise, and of course, the dogs have to be taken out every day, so there really is no excuse for her!! So how does Anxiety help with Anxiety?

Don’t overindulge

It’s important over the holiday not to be tempted to eat too many sweets (this is a weakness for Chelsea) or processed foods that are in abundance this time of year, as these can contribute to anxiety-causing anyone to peak with too much sugar then CRASH, which in turn can impact your emotions. The same, of course, can be said for Alcohol; however, this is not something that we have to worry about with Chelsea. Self Care

As a parent, we have to remember that even though we entertain at home and regularly go out, this does not always work for Chelsea. When making those plans, Simon and I have to remind ourselves that if Chelsea does not want to attend that it's ok, forcing her to join us is just asking for heartache and tears. So by giving her a choice each time gives her the power to be in control, which in the long run is extremely helpful as she then does not have to feel that she has let us down.

Christmas comes every year, and we know the date, we count down to the time of year…….YET for Chelsea and a lot of people, it's overwhelming causing feelings of stress that trigger Anxiety. Just pace yourself, the bigger problem starts when your expectations don’t match reality. So the first step to dealing with holiday anxiety is to remind yourself that you have NO EXPECTATIONS, take one day at a time. By doing so, we hope that the holiday season is one of happiness and ease.

Relevant Blog Posts:

Self-Care

So how does exercise help with Anxiety?

Breathing not just for everyday life