While ‘tis the season to be merry, for many of us it’s also a season for stress, anxiety and angst During this time of year, people often resort to bad habits—they may cave into sugar cravings, go for the booze, and overdo the caffeine.
In part, that’s because, during the holidays, people tend to experience heightened emotions. You may feel overcome by loneliness, become annoyed by meddling relatives or lose patience with your loved ones. And in the present economy, you also may be worried about how you’ll be able to pay for good gifts without maxing out your credit cards.
In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays, which puts their health at risk. The APA also learned that during this time, 41 percent of women use food and 28 percent use alcohol.
“The holidays are filled with both joy and stress,” says Ellen Braaten, PhD, an HMS associate professor of psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate director of its Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds.
In a 2015 survey conducted by Healthline, a consumer health information site based in San Francisco, Calif. Sixty-two percent of respondents described their stress level as “very or somewhat” elevated during the holidays, while only 10 percent reported no stress during the season. Among the holiday stressors listed by respondents were the financial demands of the season, negotiating the interpersonal dynamics of family, and maintaining personal health habits such as an exercise regimen.
Some of the everyday stresses we face are launched into overdrive during the holiday season. These necessary tasks, such as managing time, being attentive, switching focus, planning and organizing, and remembering details are what many of us perform daily but, according to Braaten, they are behaviors that are in even greater demand during the holiday season.
Braaten says people who feel stressed during the holidays should evaluate how they spend their time, decide what they want the holidays to mean to them, and keep their expectations for the season realistic.
Stress may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think that the extra people in your house, or the change in weather is to blame for that nagging headache. You might blame the extra things added to your daily routine for your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit.
Indeed, stress can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Give yourself the gift of a Stress Free Holiday this year. Empower yourself with the ability to enjoy your holiday season without stress, without over-eating, without increasing your use of alcohol, and without arguments with your loved ones.
Find out how you can change your mind, and change your life using Hypnosis. You can learn to live without stress in just a few sessions, and live a longer, happier, more productive life!
Call us today for more information. (802) 566-0464, or visit www.greenmountainhypnosis.com
About the Author: Karen Gray is a Registered Nurse, Certified Hypnotist, and Director of Green Mountain Hypnosis. For more information on how you can benefit from using hypnosis, email Karen at karengray@greenmountainhypnosis.com, or call (802) 566-0464.