Managing Holiday Emotions

So many emotions come up for people during the holidays, understandably so. There are tons of events to attend, families coming together after (potentially) some time apart, financial stress with purchasing gifts, potential grief (whether from from someone passing or from a relationship ending) all the while managing the normal day to day stress of work, kids, and just overall wellbeing. The holidays are portrayed as this wonderful time to connect with families and relish in tradition, but I think it is also important to bring awareness to how draining and challenging the holidays can be. If you are in that place, please know that I see you. The important thing to do during this time is to tune into yourself and your needs. The world and our culture might say the opposite, but connecting with oneself and prioritizing our needs will help us far more in the long run. It can be especially helpful to prioritize different coping strategies and self-care habits during this time too. 

Many people do not like to experience, feel, or sit with their emotions. In my experience, avoiding these feelings in the  long run this comes back to work against us. During this time of increased emotions, know that it is okay to have a lot of feelings and be unsure of what to do with them. This might be the perfect time to start the therapy process to have a sounding board while all of this is happening. Life is hard but finding people who support you and a therapist who can listen without judgment is important.