Lisa Van Der Merwe - Alpharetta Counselor

  • Home
  • About
  • FAQs
    • Forms
  • Specialties
    • Depression, Anxiety, and Stress
    • Partners of Narcissists and Adult Children of Narcissistic Parents
    • Couples Counseling
    • Men’s Issues
    • Teenagers and Parenting Support
    • Life and Executive Coaching
    • Public Speaking and Workshops
    • Private Practice Building – Consultation for Therapists
  • Approach
    • Recommended Reading
  • Contact
  • Blog

Nov 03 2011

How To Cope With Holiday Stress

 

November is here….Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah are right around the corner. While the holidays are a time of year that many people look forward to, it can also cause  feelings of overwhelming stress, anxiety, or loneliness. Here’s some advice on how to cope when warm blankets, hot chocolate, and curling up with a good book just isn’t enough to get you through it.

1. Accept that life is stressful, particularly around the holidays. Instead of viewing it as an overwhelming personal attack on you realize that it’s a “normal” part of living. Try to take the pressure off of yourself, laugh, and make time to do some things alone.

2. If you won’t be with your family during the holidays, try to schedule some time with friends. If that isn’t possible consider devoting your time to a charity, shelter, or soup kitchen. The holidays are a good time to remember and support those in need. Giving back to others can feel very satisfying.

3. If you have recently lost a loved one be patient and gentle with yourself. Be selfish (it’s not always a negative trait). If attending holiday gatherings are upsetting to you, don’t go. Reach out to a friend if you feel alone. Make room for your sadness and grief if that is what you are feeling. Some people find it helpful to create a new ritual to remember their loved one, such as writing a letter to them or making a donation to a charity in their name.

4. Pace yourself with shopping, planning, and decorating. Let go of the need to be perfect and to completely control what’s going to happen. Let in a little flexibility and unpredictability too.

5. Pause to be grateful for all the good things that you do have in your life. Take inventory of all the things you have to be thankful for.

6. If travel is stressful, offer to be the host. If hosting is stressful, try to have the gathering at someone else’s house. Try to take turns with other family members when hosting Thanksgiving and then Christmas and/or Chanukah.

7.  Expect some family conflict. When I ask people to tell me about their family interactions during the holidays, 75% of them respond by telling me that their family drives them crazy. Of course they do, all families drive each other crazy, but which “brand” of crazy is yours? Craziness is a normal part of family life, and some families have higher levels of conflict and problems than others. You can’t avoid this, particularly during the holidays when you are spending a lot of time together, but you can try to anticipate potential land-mines and avoid them.  Think about what might happen and how you will respond before you get to the gathering. If you know certain topics are sensitive or off-limits, try to divert the conversation.

8. Set boundaries and limits for yourself and others. Try not to take on too much or demand too much of your family either.

9. Have fun, reflect, and enjoy your loved ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Written by Lisa · Categorized: Coping Skills

Subscribe To My Blog

Like what you read on the blog? Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts.

Recent Posts

  • COVID-19 Update 12/23/2020
  • COVID-19 Update 9/28/2020
  • COVID-19 Update 5/7/2020
  • Covid-19 Update 3/22/2020
  • COVID-19/Counseling Update

Categories

  • About Therapy
  • Coping Skills
  • Divorce
  • Grief and Loss
  • Narcissism
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Teens
  • Uncategorized
  • Work/Life Balance

Archives

  • December 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • July 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • September 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011

Contact

Lisa Van Der Merwe, LCSW, PC
Georgetown Park
162 Prospect Place | Alpharetta, GA 30005
ph. 770-356-4408
lisa@lvcounseling.com

Easily accessible from Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Johns Creek, Canton, Woodstock, Norcross, Cumming, and Suwanee

Stay Connected

Looking for counseling or have a question? Please email, call, or use the contact form to reach me.

I will respond within one business day.

In the event of an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

 

 

Search

© 2015-2021 Lisa Van Der Merwe, LCSW, PC, All Rights Reserved.