‘Tis the Season… to be anxious??
Ahh… the holidays. Such a fun time filled with food, family, and friends. Although the holidays are a great time to make memories and have fun, they can be extremely stressful and filled with anxiety.
I know personally how stressful it can be around this time of year, so I have gathered some of my most helpful tips I’ve picked up over the years.
- Know how to handle your anxiety. You know yourself better than anyone, so you need to trust in yourself that you will do the things that are right for you. For example, if you feel a panic feeling coming on and feel like you can’t breathe, you should know the most effective way to clear your mind of that worry. Whether it’s going to the bathroom to take some deep breaths and collect yourself, taking a short walk outside your house, or sitting in a quiet room by yourself for a few minutes to escape the chaos, you have to do what feels right to you.
- Don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait until the panic takes over you completely. Know when it’s time to take action. I know it sucks that you might have to miss out on some family fun for a few minutes, but that short walk outside to rid your worries will be worth it. Rather than sit there and fight against it, take the actions you need to take to reduce it.
- Occupy yourself. You can take on a physical task, or even just think about something. For me personally, I love to dance. Dancing is my happy place, so when I feel anxious I train my mind to think of that. I make up routines in my head, think about songs, and event think about costumes for them. Any hobby or sport that you enjoy can be used this way. If you like to knit yourself a big blanket in your head. Think about the type of yarn, the colors, and even who you could make it for. If you like playing tennis, then play a tournament in your head. Think about who your opponents are or even envision yourself hitting the ball with the racket. Training your mind to do this when you are in a stressful situation comes in handy when you are enduring long family functions and are feeling antsy.
Believe and trust in yourself! You have survived 100% of your bad days! Focus on your health and happiness this holiday season. and remind yourself for the things you are grateful for.
