Reprogramming Holiday Stress
By Geraldine Humphrey, Ph.D., L.C.C.

The holidays are a time to relax and spend time with family and friends, but for many the holidays bring more stress than cheer. With busier than normal schedules, it is easy to become overwhelmed by extra demands and expectations associated with the holiday season. In an effort to pull off a perfect "Hallmark" holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of responsibilities - work, parties, shopping, baking, cleaning, caring for kids on school break, and a mound of other chores. However, by taking some simple, practical steps, you can minimize stress and depression that often accompany the holidays.

The best way to take control of holiday anxiety is to identify specific stresses and determine what is controllable and what is not. Once these anticipated holiday stresses are identified, give them a name and separate them into categories. The goal is to analyze each stress and evaluate its importance. Be honest; most of us think every identified stress is important. Just exercising the choice to put some stresses in the "unimportant" category can be empowering. Once your stresses are categorized, you must carefully determine just what is within your control and then focus all energies there. Remember, you have little control outside of yourself.

Another way to minimize holiday stress is to plan ahead. Leave nothing to chance; you will only experience more stress later. The more you plan, the more you can be in control of what will be happening and the less the holiday season will be controlling you. One technique that allows a sense of control/mastery is the "Holiday Task List." After listing each activity, answer questions like: a) Do you like doing it? b) Do you want to do it differently this year? c) Do you want to skip it this year? These questions allow you to prioritize things that are important to you and other things that you could give to someone else or not do at all.

 Dr. Gerri Humphrey is a counselor at North Canton Medical Foundation. She takes special interest in adult mental health issues, marriage and family, loss and grief, and illness therapy. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 330-433-1354.