I’ll be Home for the Holidays, and in Therapy by New Year

If you clicked this article, the odds are that you’re feeling that holiday stress. This time of year is filled with many different stressors and each person feels differently about the holiday season and THAT IS OK. 

For those with family conflict, the holidays can increase feelings of anxiety, fear, and helplessness with the feeling of obligation to engage with certain people.

For those who struggle with disordered eating, the holidays can bring up stress related to food. The unwarranted comments from family members ‘judging’ the meal, or lack thereof, that you’ve prepared on your plate. 

For those who are experiencing financial hardships, the holidays can feel like a burden with the assumption for gift giving and wanting to ‘spread holiday cheer’ but be held back by other circumstances.

For those who have recently ended a relationship or lost a job and are dreading the questions from family and friends about “where’s Jimmy?” or “what’s next?”, the holidays can cause one to dread conversing with people that once brought joy.

For those who have experienced a loss, the holidays can be a painful reminder that you are physically without that individual’s presence, and that reality feels extremely heavy, and hard. 

For those who live far from family and friends, the holidays can feel lonely and isolating. 

For those who experience any degree of mental health concerns, the holidays can feel exhausting and unappealing.

However, you do not need to navigate through those thoughts
and feelings alone- this time of year, or ever. 

For those with family conflict, disordered eating, financial stress, grieving the loss of a relationship, person, or job, isolation, or any other conflict life presents with, know that your feelings are valid.

 Understand that your journey is your own.

 Use this reflection as insight as you enter into the new year and be cognizant of the fact that you do not need to navigate this alone.

If you find yourself relating to this article, do not hesitate to contact us for a phone consultation. The first step toward a better you is recognizing the desire for change. Now that you’ve done that, let’s take the next step together.