Coping Through The Holidays - Forum Discussion

🌟 Hello everyone, I hope that you all are doing well. I know I have not followed the schedule, and I truly apologize! I had a family emergency that needed my full attention, but now I am back and ready for us to continue this event! 🌟

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💛 Today we are going to discuss how to cope with the holidays. Coping through the holidays can be a callous thing to do. It can be so hard when we don't always have something to celebrate, or we don't get along with family, or simply the holidays make us feel worse. These are all completely valid and common things to feel during this time. I know that coping can be so painful, but hopefully after this discussion, it becomes a little bit easier. 💛

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💬 So of course the first question we ask ourselves is, what is triggering these emotions/feelings towards the holiday? A lot of people don't like the holidays because it reminds them of loved ones that have passed, they feel lonely, or any other reason. Being able to pinpoint why we are feeling the way we are is a great place to start.  The holidays can stir up feelings of grief if you have lost a loved one. Naturally, some of us attempt to push these feelings away and try to avoid them altogether. However, these reactions are normal, and burying them will just create a spill over and begin to impact your mood and behavior. Instead, acknowledge the way you feel. Just the act of stating how you feel can be therapeutic and may help you move through the various aspects of your grief.

💬 Once we have been able to pinpoint the feelings and triggers, we can then find ways to help us cope and get through them. The first thing we can do is plan. If we try and make a plan and stay busy, it can make it easier to cope and give us less time to think about the negative parts of the holidays. Being able to make plans and have a routine can potentially make coping a lot easier. Staying busy and active are ways to help us be distracted.  "Think about what was stressful about last year, and make adjustments. Create a budget for what you can spend and stick to it. Carve out days/times to shop, cook or clean. Plan out how you will manage that annoying relative. If your aunt seems to always criticize you, find a seat at the opposite end of the table. We can’t always control what people say or do, but we can try to set ourselves up for the best possible scenario. If she still manages to make a dig, manage your reaction, pull her aside and tell her how it makes you feel. Let her know what you would like to see happen instead, i.e. “If you have a concern about my boyfriend, will you bring it up after he leaves next time?” But most importantly, and if you can, plan to spend time with the people who make you happy."

💬 Preventing burnout is such an important part of the holidays. we need to be making sure we are taking care of our bodies and understanding when we need to take a break and so something for ourselves. For many, the holiday season brings joy, but it can also bring more stress and some conflicting obligations. It is important to prioritize what brings joy and emotional recharge (people or activities). It’s okay to say no to situations that stress you out, whether it's attending a party with people who have mistreated you or missing a party in a week that's been too intense at work.

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🌼 These are just a few of the many things we can do to help us cope through the holidays. I appreciate you all taking the time to read this post and joining in on our discussions. I have a few questions for you to answer if you feeL comfortable.  🌼

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Questions: 

1. How do you best cope when feeling stressed during the holidays? 

2. What is one piece of knowledge that you would like to share about coping with these tough times? 

3. What do you feel is the biggest stressor when it comes to the holidays? 

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