It’s the most wonderful time of the year, again! Where did 2017 go?! For many of us, Christmas is a joyful experience.
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But for those of us with anxiety disorders, Christmas can bring along a unique anxiety of its own.
Whether it’s the social gatherings, the huge amount of food or choosing gifts that have riled up your anxiety – here are 5 tips on how to cope with that seasonal challenge.
1. Stay Away From Excess Alcohol
Alcohol is actually a depressant, especially if your system has been overloaded with the sparkly stuff.
I don’t want to be a party pooper – a glass or two is absolutely fine! But keep an eye on your intake and drink plenty of water.
2. Keep Active!
It’s lovely to have the opportunity to kick back and relax at Christmas time.
However, a lack of exercise can lead to increased anxiety.
With all that adrenaline built up over the day having nowhere to go – it’s no surprise that our system may get agitated!
If you’re feeling anxious, head out for a family walk, take the dog out or even just stand outside for a few minutes if you can. Fresh air is surprisingly therapeutic.
3. Try To Relax…
Yeah…I said it. Try to RELAX. This kind of advice used to really annoy me as an anxiety sufferer.
It’s not like I haven’t thought “Hmmm…I should really relax and my anxiety will just melt away!” But I have recently found that breathing techniques are fantastic for an anxious mind.
Take 5 minutes to just take deep breaths. Put on some soothing music. And re-center yourself.
4. Take Some Time Out For You
It is so important to balance your time at this point in the year.
Days can become overwhelmed with seeing family and relatives, cooking, cleaning and making sure everything is perfect!
Set some time aside – a morning, an afternoon or even a whole day – for yourself.
Practice some self-care. Watch your favorite movie.
Settle down and allow your mind to (I’m going to say it again…) relax.
5. Remember You Are Doing Your Best!
We are only human. And if you’re anything like me – you search all over social media and see perfect Christmas setups and start to feel like you’re way behind – in everything!
The effort and love we put into Christmas just shows how much we care for our loved ones. Don’t allow anxiety to own that.
You are doing enough! The world will continue to turn after December 25th (I often forget that fact…).
It is possible for us to enjoy Christmas despite our friend, anxiety, tagging along for the ride!
We will cope as we always do cope. Because we are warriors. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
