Holidays are a time for relaxation and celebration. But for many individuals, it can be a time of stress, anxiety, and dread. Planning parties, meeting people’s expectations, and juggling different priorities can significantly affect one’s mental and physical health. However, with the right help and support, managing holiday anxiety shouldn’t be difficult. If you or a loved one is struggling with holiday anxiety, reach out to Insight Into Action Therapy for quality anxiety treatment in Virginia.
Mental health conditions, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), chronic stress, and clinical depression, can also contribute to holiday anxiety. Even as you are overwhelmed by people’s demands, you may be expected to mask it with a smile. To know more about our therapy programs for efficiently managing anxiety, contact us at 703.935.8544.
Tips for Dealing with Holiday Anxiety
With a little effort and planning, one can considerably reduce holiday anxiety. The following tips for managing anxiety should help you enjoy a stress-free festive season:
Plan Ahead
Responsibilities may bog you down during the holiday season, be it planning events, buying gifts, or even interacting with family members you aren’t close to. However, if you start planning ahead of time, you won’t have any last-minute errands and obligations to run. You can use a planner or a note-taking app on your phone to keep track of everything.
Keep Up Healthy Habits
Regular exercise and diet can go a long way in keeping you healthy and energetic. However, one is more prone to skip workouts and gorge on junk food during the holiday season. To counter this, have a flexible workout routine and diet tracker with a few “cheat days” thrown in.
Set Personal Boundaries
Holidays are commonly associated with over-indulgence, be it binge-drinking and waking up with a hangover or overspending on gifts for loved ones. To prevent regret and exhaustion, you can set personal boundaries. Perhaps, you can stick to a monthly budget or promise not to drink too much, even if the temptation presents itself.
Ask Friends/Family to Check-Up on You
Sometimes, it might be impossible to avoid triggers. Despite our best efforts to hold ourselves in check, we might occasionally slip up. This is why it is important to reach out to trustworthy friends and family members and ask them to check up on you. For instance, if you’re trying to remain sober and you have to attend a party where alcohol will be served, take a friend along to keep an eye on you.
Learn to Say No
At times, we may neglect our own emotional needs to prioritize other people. During the festive season, remind yourself that you do not need to attend every party or make time for everyone. Learn to say no to situations that might be stressful for you or you’re not keen on. Focus on what gives you happiness and fulfillment, be it a quiet move night with yourself or a small gathering with only close friends.
Get Enough Rest
If you do not get adequate rest and sleep, you may feel more anxious, irritable, and exhausted. With all the hustle and bustle, make sure you schedule enough time to recharge your batteries. Ensure that your social calendar also has “off-days” for you to spend time alone.
Seek Professional Help
If you still feel overwhelmed or have frequent meltdowns, seek professional help to manage anxiety. Talking to an empathetic therapist will help you identify key issues and develop effective coping strategies for them.
Find Help and Healing at Insight Into Action Therapy
At Insight Into Action Therapy, we make the client’s well-being our highest priority. With multiple customizable therapy and treatment programs on offer, our queer-friendly facility has helped countless citizens overcome addiction and mental health disorders and live happier lives. No matter how serious the condition, it is never too late to seek help. Call us at 703.935.8544 and change your life today.
