Managing Holiday Stress and Anxiety
By Jensen Bonney, LMHCA
With Thanksgiving in our rear view, we’ve got more holidays approaching quickly. From holiday advertisements, holiday music on the radio, and lights decorating every city block, it’s a wonderful time of the year! So why do we feel so much anxiety and stress? Holiday anxiety is a really normal feeling.
Why the Holidays Feel Overwhelming
Most people, by desire or maybe obligation, get together with family throughout the holidays. This in itself can be extremely triggering of anxiety and stress. A lot of people have complicated relationships with some or all of their family. It might be from childhood experiences and trauma, or it might be from current circumstances like political differences or differences in life choices or personal identities.
I’m here to give you permission to give yourself grace and give yourself what you need to help lower your stress and get through the holidays.
Setting Boundaries and Caring for Yourself
Maybe you make the decision to stay at home this year. Maybe you need to take a 5-minute break outside or in a quiet room. Or you can come up with some pre-planned answers to questions or topics you know you want to avoid. “I’d rather not talk about politics today; what are you looking forward to in the new year?”
Another big stressor may be your relationship with food and/or alcohol. Let’s face it, the holidays often revolve around a big meal and often have alcohol in abundance. If you have any sticky feelings around these, it can really increase your stress levels. If you have a complicated relationship with alcohol, it might be helpful to find holiday plans where there won’t be any. Or if you feel that’s too hard to plan for, bring a favorite drink or mocktail with you! You can still feel like you’re participating with “fancy” drinks, while respecting your boundaries with alcohol. And don’t be afraid to leave a situation if you feel like your boundary is being threatened.
Supporting Your Long-Term Well-Being
Whether it’s family, outings and rituals, or mental load of planning the magic of the holidays for your kids, it’s completely normal to have increased feelings of stress and anxiety around the holidays. It’s important to help yourself minimize these feelings as much as possible for the sake of your long-term mental health.
Give yourself permission to give yourself whatever healthy coping mechanisms you need. Take space when you need it. Simplify your plans as much as you need.
We look forward to seeing you in the new year!
