Family Anxiety During Holidays? 3 Tips to Help
We are in the season of spending more time with family. Although it might be a happy time, it can be normal to feel anxiety when thinking about the time that you are planning to spend with family members. Even if you feel like you have a good relationship with your family members there are still times that can be stressful in being around them. If you are feeling more anxious this season, keep reading and we will cover some things that can be potentially helpful for you during this time.
1.) Identify what you would like your schedule to look like
When the holiday season starts so does planning for what it will look like. If you are married or have extended family it can get complicated. You might feel more of a pull in multiple directions of how to spend your time. If you feel added pressure during this time it is important to not overwhelm yourself. It is okay and necessary to set boundaries with family members and friends that are going to be asking for more time. Instead of answering family members' requests right away in regards to holiday plans, let them know that you will get back to them to allow for you to think things through. Sometimes when we feel more anxiety we tend to commit to more than we intend. To help with stress involved with holiday planning this year, take time before you respond. Know that your boundaries with family in regards to planning is not to push anyone away but instead a way for you to keep a healthy relationship with family during the holiday season. Boundaries are healthy in any relationship and especially important during this time.
2.) Plan for how you can take care of yourself
It might feel anxiety provoking to know that you will be spending more time with family because it can feel hard to be around family for a certain amount of time. It might be important to have some things within your control in place to help anxiety. Anxiety can develop when we don't know what to expect and fear that we are not in control of the situations that we get placed in. To help it might be beneficial to have something in place to help you be in control of your situation. For example, driving to your families house so that you have a car at all times so you can control when you leave. So you feel less stuck having some plans in place that you are in control of that can be helpful in managing your anxiety.
3.) Allow Your Feelings
One of the reasons why we get more anxious is because we feel shame for having anxiety and stress during this time. Trying to push away how we feel will make matters worse instead of better. Be kind and compassionate to yourself during this time. Holidays can bring a mix of grief to it as well. If you find yourself feeling more sad during this time, know that is normal and okay. Find ways to honor loved ones if you have had family members pass away during this holiday season to help. Journal about how you feel and allow yourself to have a space to express your feelings. Giving yourself permission to feel your harder emotions will help you to feel more joy as well because you are not trying to push any of your emotions away. Allow yourself to show up as you are during this time.
If you are feeling more anxious during this time it might be helpful to talk to a mental health professional as well. Here at Inward Counseling we would be happy to help you with any anxiety that you are experiencing during this time. We see couples, individuals, and families to assist in mental health services. Reach out to us to see how we can be of support for you during this time.