If you’re finding it hard to cope, you might like to talk to someone who’s not so close to the situation. Coping With Christmas Stress Posted on December 15, 2015 by Toni Jackson :: Psychotherapist & Counsellor 2 Comments. Diets and gym memberships are particularly popular in January! That’s the thing that has already turned up. All rights reserved.CSI Media - Umbraco Website Designers, Unexplained nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, Dizziness, palpitations, and sudden visual changes, Social withdrawal including withdrawal from family and friends, Expectations to socialise (even within our allowed households) and spend more money, The emphasis on loneliness at this perceived time of togetherness, Additional cleaning and cooking, on top of already busy lives, Arguments amongst family during a time of closer proximity, Financial worries, heightened by the pressure of choosing perfect gifts, Pressure on hosts to provide the perfect Christmas for children, parents or guests, Focus on positives and celebrate the small achievements, Don’t catastrophise – ask yourself “what if everything goes well, not wrong?”, Stop people-pleasing – it’s okay if you turn down some invites, even if it’s just to a Zoom call you don’t feel comfortable attending, Let go of your inner perfectionist – look at what really matters to you, Have a break from social media and don’t compare yourself to others, Spread out your diary – it’s okay to plan nice things for January too, rather than putting too much pressure on the small window in December, Prepare and plan in advance for how your time is going to be spent, Organise, prioritise and set achievable goals, Set yourself a budget for Christmas shopping, Share the load – allocate tasks and give other people responsibilities, Open a window or go for a walk for fresh air, Take up an exercise class that is good for wellbeing, such as yoga, Drink responsibly, limit alcohol or avoid it completely, Medication including anti-depressants may be helpful in certain cases. Instead of having to blitz your Christmas gift shopping in one weekend, do a little … Christmas Stress. Another aggravating factor that may contribute towards stress levels at this time of year is the role of social media, which triggers one-upmanship during the holiday season. Christmas and the holidays can be a massively busy time. Christmas stress and anxiety is a huge thing for me and it totally sucks. tips for communicating in difficult conversations, you’re worried about the Christmas holiday, you aren’t spending Christmas with family, working long hours to get things finished before the holidays, worrying about the financial cost of buying Christmas presents, getting all the Christmas shopping done in time. Manage your expectations. Within this blog, we explore the causes of stress, the most appropriate treatment, and the best ways to avoid the pressures of the holidays, particularly in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has changed the festive season as we know it. Counseling or support groups can also be beneficial. During stressful periods such as Christmas, it is important to find safe outlets for emotions, such as enjoying outdoor exercise or chatting to a friend over video or phone. Helping others is a great way to feel the joy of Christmas. Be realistic. You might even talk to the person or people causing you stress to see if you can work something out together. Talk to your parents about how you’re going to split your time at Christmas. Every breakfast TV show has at least two segments dedicated to reducing stress (read that as ‘provoke anxiety’) at Christmas. If they live further apart, then you can swap who you spend Christmas with each year. By Dr. Sally Shaw. Do a bit at a time. Recognising and changing behaviours that contribute to your stress will help you get through the Christmas period. tool can help you explore what's right for you. Delaying something until the last minute is rarely a good idea. ReachOut.com uses cookies to give you the best experience. It is here already. The stress that comes in the lead up to Christmas. Thursday, 20 December 2012 Fran. You can use this interactive worksheet to : 1. Christmas brings a mixture of childhood excitement and dread. Remember to stay healthy - eating well , exercising and getting enough sleep can help you cope with Christmas stress. We spoke to Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Jaya Gowrisunkur, about coping with stress at Christmas. Christmas is usually characterised as a time for celebration – music, bright lights, giving presents, seeing loved ones and enjoying food and drink. If you’re spending it overseas or with people other than your family, plan for some fun activities: Volunteer to help with a charity Christmas lunch. Take a break. This is highly risky because emotional distress cannot be reduced with this behaviour, it will only keep increasing. It is here already. Some of the reasons people get super-stressed, tired and argumentative with family at this time include: Because Christmas is usually jam-packed with family visits and activities, it’s worthwhile making sure you have time out just to relax and be in your own space. For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here. For details of how Priory can provide you with assistance regarding mental health and wellbeing, please call 0800 840 3219 or click here to submit an enquiry form. Privacy and Cookies Plus, there are the usual pressures of Christmas to contend with, which include: A study conducted by eBay compared Christmas shopping to running a marathon in terms of the stress that it produces on the body. This could be a … Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline 13 11 14 both have counsellors who are available 24 hours a day, so feel free to call them if you feel overwhelmed. The stress that comes in the lead up to Christmas. Christmas stress and anxiety can often intensify feelings of sadness among those suffering from depression. “Coping with Holiday Stress Worksheet” introduces nine important strategies to help ensure a happy and healthy holiday season. It's not always easy to find the right place to start. (Password is XMAS) This is a fun combo of two previous posts that gives five helpful hints for reducing and coping with Christmas stress during the holiday preparations and beyond. If they live close to each other, you might do lunch at one place and dinner at the other (swapping each year). Christmas. Try These Things to Help You’re not alone if you’re not exactly feeling in the holiday spirit this year. Learn to make healthier choices during the holiday season 3. Yep. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram fuel ‘FOMO’ (fear of missing out), even in this COVID Christmas as people stage glamorous get-togethers within the home, or are in areas with more relaxed tier systems. Those suffering from any type of holiday anxiety, depression, or stress can benefit from increased social support during this time of year. During stressful periods such as Christmas, it is important to find safe outlets for emotions, such as enjoying outdoor exercise or chatting to a friend over video or phone. The holidays don't have to be perfect or just like last year. And the media love it. Legal Live in the moment. Consultant Health Psychologist Dr Sue Peacock from BMI The Saxon Clinic shares her advice for surviving the season. Our 'What's on your mind?' Coping with Christmas stress 9th December 2020 Written by Dr. Sally Shaw for MS Australia. Although Christmas is seen as a time for celebration where you get together with family and friends and enjoy each other’s company, it can also be a stressful time for many. If you can't (or don't want to) step off the social merry-go-round, at least try to eat and drink in moderation. If you’re struggling already, the extra social pressure to be happy and involved over the Christmas period can be too much. When you first come to us, an initial appointment will be provided with a consultant psychiatrist, who will help to clarify your condition and form a diagnosis, leading to a care plan focused around your specific needs and goals. Festive Stress. Use Visual Schedules (great for toddlers too) During school breaks, I often use a whiteboard to take … Coping with Christmas Stress. Some other ways to keep your Christmas stress levels down include: Try to be moderate – it may be the season to be jolly, but too much food and alcohol is harmful. ... until something happens that you really can’t cope with. Christmas is, for many, a time of excessive eating and drinking and exercise can be easily overlooked. Top ten tips on how to survive the festive season by author and psychologist Sarah Rozenthuler. Talk to your parents about how you’re going to split your time at Christmas. Church groups or organisations like the Salvation Army or The Smith Family often put on Christmas lunches and are usually looking for volunteers. put your headphones on and close your eyes. 60% of those surveyed experienced shopping fatigue after 32 minutes, with heart rates increasing by an average of 33% during this time. Psychological symptoms of stress include: Behavioural changes linked to stress include: The pressures of 2020 will have heightened feelings of stress for many. Fran blogs about how she keeps her anxiety and stress at bay by reviewing a daily mantra. 10 ways to reduce Christmas stress; 10 ways to reduce Christmas stress. And the media love it. Christmas can be a difficult time of year, with many people experiencing increased symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Reduce Christmas Stress. Identify the main sources of your holiday stress 2. This can cause people to behave in uncharacteristic, risky or embarrassing ways which can have significant, potentially long-term effects at work, at home and on self-esteem. “Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. Here at Priory Healthcare, we help people who are struggling to manage their stress levels and who are worried about the impact it is having on their life. Ok, well, Christmas itself is not actually here yet, but the stress is. Some individuals thrive on high levels of stress, such as in stressful working environments, whereas others struggle a lot more with the pressure. Take time out to give yourself some space. If they live further apart, then you can swap who you spend Christmas with each year. Stress is a normal, necessary and adaptive response that helps us to deal with the challenges of life and the environment around us. While the holiday season can be an incredibly joyful experience for most, … People greet each other to get together to celebrate this event with their loved ones. If you have to divide your time between your parents' places, these suggestions might help. But there are some factors like loneliness, expectations of others, and the high credit card bills which can stress someone out. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and on edge, or if you’re spending Christmas away from home, there are things you can do to make dealing with the holiday season easier. See more ideas about Holiday stress, Christmas, Stress free christmas. I wanted to talk about some of the ways people get stress and anxiety around Christmas and how you can sort it out if it happens. Holidays Got You Down? Below is some more advice: Focus on positives and celebrate the small achievements. Don’t wait until the last minute. There's no point dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Take time out Headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, and insomnia are some of the possible consequences of poorly managed holiday stress. There are now additional strains at a time already fraught with demands, as we all continue to adhere to social distancing and the merriment is much more muted. And the media love it. … Sadly, all of this extravagance is far from the reality this year. According to MIND, one in four adults feel anxious about social occasions during the festive period.Not to mention, the extra demands at Christmas … Christmas: It’s the Most Stre-ess-ful Time of the Year! Christmas is also a time when most people, whether they struggle with stress or not, consume more alcohol than usual. Maybe chill out by listening to some music, going for a walk or chatting with a friend. Yep. Find out more about cookies and your privacy in our policy. That stress is perhaps felt strongest among young adults, many of whom may be far away from home and looking at celebrating the holiday season alone for the first time. I’ll be posting it this coming Christmas (2020), so in the meantime it’s password protected. Look online for charity Christmas lunches happening nearby. All in all, the holiday season creates the ‘perfect storm’ of heightened physical, emotional, psychological and social stressors. Ok, well, Christmas itself is not actually here yet – it’s over three weeks after all, but the stress is. ‘Tis the season for indulgence, and whether it be a festive holiday party or a … Drink driving is a real danger and is illegal. Sep 13, 2020 - Explore Vicki Fulwood's board "coping with christmas", followed by 105 people on Pinterest. Accessibility Coping with Christmas Stress Here are some tips to beat the holiday stress: Provide help to someone – research shows that helping others builds resilience, irrespective of age or health, was found that those who provided tangible assistance to friends or family were protected from the harmful effects of stress. Some people who are stressed, anxious or depressed can turn to negative ways of coping, such as eating too much food or drinking alcohol, to make themselves feel better. The Priory Group aspires to deliver the highest quality of care in the UK across our range of services, which include acute mental healthcare, addiction treatment and low and medium secure facilities. Spending a lot of time with someone you don’t often see can be tough. Avoid overindulging. Work out a Christmas plan. overdoing it with too many family, work or social events. The stress that comes in the lead up to Christmas. Christmas. 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