How to Manage Anxiety Around the Holidays
With a new season upon us, this also means the start of the holiday season. For some, this means coziness and excitement to celebrate with loved ones. For others, it can increase anxiety and stress, potentially due to complex family dynamics, grief, lack of tradition, or simply a change in someone’s routine. The anxiety toward the holidays may vary due to socioeconomic status and privilege, but the negative emotions can be universal.
It is essential to acknowledge that it can be challenging to manage strong emotions on a daily basis. On top of this, there is added pressure on the holidays to feel happy and spirited, and clients often feel shame for being unable to feel present and joyful. Below are helpful tips to manage these varying emotions during the holiday season.
Permission to Feel
Give yourself permission to feel these negative or complicated feelings. Hold space to acknowledge that your holiday season may look different from friends, other family members, or the highlight reel shown on social media. Do not minimize your uneasiness when some moments are filled with mindfulness and others with negative thoughts.
Practice Gratitude
Try your best to practice gratitude. Once you allow yourself to feel the negative feelings, switch gears to the joyous moments of the holidays. Which family member may you be excited to see? What foods or holiday drinks may bring you joy? What parts of your routine can you maintain during the season to keep yourself grounded? It is essential to acknowledge the negatives without getting stuck in these feelings. Allow both ends of the spectrum to coexist; two things can be true at once.
Take Advantage of Your Support System
After prioritizing the internal dialogue, consider discussing these feelings with someone else, such as a friend, family member, or mental health professional. Releasing your internalized feelings can be incredibly freeing and validating when you speak to someone from your support system. Externalizing our thoughts and feelings can be a helpful way to receive various perspectives and feel less alone.
Take time to Reflect
Allow space for reflection. Before the holidays begin, set intentions and ground yourself for what the holiday season may look like. Reflect on past holidays and set realistic expectations for family members and potential upcoming stressors. What do you want your future holidays to look like? What can you control about the coming holidays or traditions that make you feel comfortable? The reflection of expectations may be necessary for some, but so is being open to new experiences and new memories for this upcoming holiday season.
The changing seasons are out of our control, so the best we can do is set ourselves up for success. Lean into the things in your life and routine that ground you. Bring any mood boosters with you when traveling or transitioning through the seasons, and you and your anxiety will feel more in control of the shifts.
*If you are having difficulty managing your emotions during the holiday season, please schedule a free consultation with someone from our team to help support you!
