You love Uncle Ray. But he can be a serious pain during the holidays. Your best friend is your best friend for a lot of wonderful reasons. But it seems like the holidays turn her into an anxiety-producing thorn in your side.
What can you do without alienating these people that you care about deeply during this special time of year?
Review the past to plan for the future.
Look for environmental triggers that make Uncle Ray such a source of stress and anxiety. Talk with your best friend and find out why she becomes so anxious and depressed during the holidays.
In many cases you’ll discover situational or interpersonal causes for behaviors that create stress among you, your family and friends. Then plan your holiday celebration to limit the presence of those emotional triggers.
Maybe Ray only gets wound up when another certain family member is around. Maybe your BFF causes you stress and anxiety because you see her going into deep financial debt every holiday season. You know she struggles to get by, and seeing this behavior every year makes you stressed out on your friend’s behalf.
Be honest with yourself as well.
Maybe you’re partly responsible for causing holiday-related anxiety. (Now how could that be, right?) Examine your individual relationships with all the people you love and care about. It may just be that the hectic holidays are causing you to contribute to some of the stress.
Carefully scrutinizing personal dynamics is a great way to make sure everyone enjoys the holidays. This can lead to smart party planning, travel and gift-giving. Your reward could be your first stress-free holiday season in years.
Remember:
Less stress = Lower risk of stroke
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year,
Dr. Fraser, my old friend.
Hope all is well with you and family.
Hi there. Thanks for visiting my blog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! I sent you an email.