David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
SURVIVAL HINTS FOR MAKING IT THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH EMOTIONS IN CHECK
by Carol Sonnenblick, Ed.D.
Board of Directors, Freedom Fom Fear
Chubby Santa?s, twinkling lights, parties, the aroma of pies and cookies baking in the kitchen, champagne bubbles, family feasts and gifts piled high greet each year?s holiday season. Holidays are happy times, right? Not necessarily. The advent of the holiday season is not always a time of joy. It is a time when we mourn those whose presence is missed. It is a time when frenzied activity adds to the burden of life?s already hectic schedules. It is a time of excess?spending too much, eating too much and drinking too much. How can we put in the obligatory time with family which may prove toxic as old habits and unresolved issues resurface? How can we enjoy the holiday season when coping with our usual stressors requires us to use all of our inner resources? Here are some.
by Carol Sonnenblick, Ed.D.
Board of Directors, Freedom Fom Fear
Chubby Santa?s, twinkling lights, parties, the aroma of pies and cookies baking in the kitchen, champagne bubbles, family feasts and gifts piled high greet each year?s holiday season. Holidays are happy times, right? Not necessarily. The advent of the holiday season is not always a time of joy. It is a time when we mourn those whose presence is missed. It is a time when frenzied activity adds to the burden of life?s already hectic schedules. It is a time of excess?spending too much, eating too much and drinking too much. How can we put in the obligatory time with family which may prove toxic as old habits and unresolved issues resurface? How can we enjoy the holiday season when coping with our usual stressors requires us to use all of our inner resources? Here are some.
- Develop a shopping list and spending plan. Resist impulse buying and extravagance.
- Remember that there is no reason to expect that difficult relationships will have improved since last year?so why get aggravated.
- Pace your activities. Accept invitations to those events that will not overburden your life and cause next day exhaustion. Feeling tired and frantic is not good for your physical and mental health.
- If food and drink are an issue?try moderation (more easily said than done?think January when you will want to undo the results of binge indulging)
- Choose parties and events you really care about, avoid day after day of obligatory activities.
- Set aside some time just for yourself?do something that you enjoy, makes you smile and reduces your sense of being on a treadmill.
- Chose someone you really care about and spend some quality time, even if it?s only a quick lunch somewhere.
- Make plans for January and February to do something special?give yourself something to look forward to during the coldest, darkest winter months.
- Buy yourself a gift, something that you really want that no one else is going to get for you.
?Remember that our expectations will create our reactions, and expectations are often too idealistic if guided by the hallmark holiday image.?
~ Mark Sisti, Ph.D
~ Mark Sisti, Ph.D
?Have the freedom to change traditions, based on what works and what no longer works.?
~ Constance Salhany, Ph.D.
~ Constance Salhany, Ph.D.
