Coping with holiday stress

AMHERST, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - The holidays are a time with many joys & traditions, but also can be full of stressors and unrealistic expectations.

Clinical Psychologist Tim Hope shared some tips on how to cope with holiday stress.

Coping with holiday stress

The holidays are a time with many joys, hopes, and hopeful expectations, as well as stressors from work, rushing around to get things done, sadness in remembering those we have lost, disappointment, and, too often, unrealistic expectations and conflict.

Stress can have significant health consequences for you as well as lead to strife in your relationships.

You can do several things to prevent stress effects on you and be better prepared to cope with stress in a more healthy way.

• RELAX can be a helpful way to remember steps you can take: Remember what the holidays are truly about... Connections with others, appreciating what we have, our traditions and values.
   
• EXERCISE.. It's simply good for you in so many ways physically, cognitively, and emotionally.
   
• LISTEN...to music you love, sermons that inspire you, a good book on tape. All of these things can transport you and help you find emotional balance.
   
• ASK FOR HELP! You don't have to do everything yourself. Chances are, there are several people in your life who would do a fantastic job cooking dishes for the holiday feast. Pray, attend services, take a walk in the woods and commune with nature. Help comes in many forms.

Extricate yourself from social situations you don't need or want to participate in. This is good practice for gracefully saying, "no, thank you" to that ninth party invitation or saying, "I think I need to check on the pie in the oven" when that uncle who always talks controversial politics starts talking about the latest outrageous event, from his perspective.

These steps are some of the ways you can nurture yourself and build up your stress resistance, while also helping you to focus in the true meaning of the holidays.

Remember that there is always help available from your doctor or a local psychologist, social worker, or counselor. APA.org is a good resource for finding help.