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Life Area: Personal
Topic: Holiday Stress
For some people, the holidays really are “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for others they’re anything but. Stressors can include anxiety about travel or pressure to be with family.
Whether you’re nervous about flying or worried about spending too much time with your dysfunctional family, there are common ways to manage your emotions. Here are some techniques for dealing with holiday stress and anxiety that stems from common holiday season scenarios:
If you’re worried about traveling…
Flying during the holidays usually entails long lines, jam-packed spaces, and short tempers. The chaos can induce a lot of panic, or even panic attacks.
Centering yourself can help re-establish your sense of reality. Coloring during your flight, for example, shifts the focus to what’s in front of you.
If coloring doesn’t resonate with you, use your own body to relax. Try the emotional freedom technique, which involves tapping the meridian points on your body, such as the front of your eyebrow and under your nose.
Help yourself by establishing a boundary by predetermining how long a family visit will last.
If you’re uncomfortable drinking…
Not everyone can drink in social settings, whether it’s because they prefer not to drink, are in recovery, or because they’re on medication. They may be pregnant but don’t want to announce that yet.
For folks who are striving to maintain sobriety, it’s important to remember that the holidays are just like any other day, we, as a society, have given holidays special meaning and designated certain traditions on these days, but they come and go just like every other day. Your preference not to drink or your recovery routine shouldn’t change.
Prepare an explanation so that you’re not caught off guard, such as “I’m on medication, I’m a designated driver, or I don’t drink anymore.”
One of the biggest sources of anxiety for those not drinking or for those in recovery is the explanation that they have to give and possibly being dismissed. So anticipating possible peer pressure and preparing is key. Make an escape plan before the event in case you want to leave earlier than expected. Say and do what’s necessary in order to feel comfortable, even if that means answering a pretend phone call outside. No matter what people say or think, sobriety is the number one priority.
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