Coping with Holiday Stress

Well the big turkey day is over. Now we are headed straight for the month of December and even though many enjoy the holidays, the season isn't without with its own stress and demands.

Those that find the holidays particularly sad are people who have just experienced a real loss of some kind. And maybe for some, holidays have never been that great anyway despite all the holiday hoopla. Here are a few suggestions that might help you get through the upcoming month:

-Realize that you are never alone. There are numerous support groups for most any situation. Use them and get the support you need. (This can include weight loss groups!)

-Think twice about over doing it with excess alcohol and/or food. These will only compound the problem. This is what I call “stuffing” the feelings. Feelings may temporarily go away but will only resurface with a vengeance. It's important to recognize your true feelings and understand what you need.

-Think about how you can reduce stress as much as possible. Do specific traditions really need to continue or can you create something new without an added expense? (Overspending also adds a lot more stress, especially since most of us are already hurting from the economy.) Determine what the most important things are in the big picture.

-That being said, “don't sweat the small stuff.”  This is not the time of year to be ruled by being a perfectionist.

-Most importantly remember you really do have a choice in how to respond to stress. As I mentioned above be aware of your words, thoughts, and feelings. Sometimes we allow irrational thoughts to control us and consequently add even more stress to a situation. "Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." - Pearl Strachan Hurd