Tips for Managing Holiday Stress
- Psychiatrists and therapists are people who celebrate the holidays and go on vacation like everyone else. Be sure to find out if a therapist's vacation will interrupt your normal therapy schedule. Know these things ahead of time, so you are not surprised. If you're on medication to manage panic disorder, be sure you have enough to last you if your doctor will be away for a while. Or, ask your doctor for the name of a colleague you can call, if necessary.
- There isn't a better time to begin regular practice of relaxation and breathing exercises. Regular practice, once or twice a day, will ultimately give you an ability to relax more easily. Learn some exercises now, and you'll know that you have the ability to go off by yourself at any time and relax for 10 or 15 minutes.
- Expect the unexpected. Yes, you can prepare for normal situations that you know will come up in your typical holiday season. But, the unexpected will occur. Don't allow it to take over. Remember that you cannot control everything. And remember that your mental health comes first.
- Now, more than ever, you need a good support system, preferably one made up of people who are also recovering from panic disorder. If you don't have one, it's easy to find one online, even if it's just a few people you email now and then. Check out the About.com Panic Disorder Forum.
- In the midst of all your giving, giving, giving, remember to be a little self-indulgent. Does that sound selfish? Good! It's good to be selfish once in a while. Self-indulgence means stopping to look at some pretty holiday lights, just because it makes you feel good. Or, it could be getting enough sleep, even if you have to go home earlier than everyone else. Self-indulgence means taking that 10 minutes to practice a relaxation exercise.
- Don't let anyone else tell you what you can and cannot do, or what you should or should not be able to do. This doesn't mean that you should ignore all advice, particularly that of your therapist and/or support group participants. However, don't let people push you into doing something you're not ready to do. If you'd like to be able to go somewhere or attend a function, but you don't feel ready, consider working on it in therapy. In any case, trust your instincts (that's instincts not anxiety) about when you're ready to make a move.
Happy Holidays!
While it only comes once a year, the upcoming season can play a big part in how you feel when the new year arrives. Start a new tradition this year: stay well, maintain your recovery and make the holiday season what you want it to be.
