Strategies for managing stress during the holidays

Let’s face it, the holidays are a time for giving. They have the power to drain and agitate you.

A survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation found that 29% of Americans are under more stress than they were a year ago. Politics and money are major sources of stress, as evidenced by the poll, particularly for those who cannot afford the holidays.

“We don’t want people going broke or feeling like they are going broke, so don’t try to pay for the perfect holiday. If you’re worried about all of these pocketbook issues, don’t be overly stressed about the perfect gift. Be kind to yourself and others in the giving of a gift,” said Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation.

Experts advise you to ask yourself one simple question: is stress something you experience occasionally or on a daily basis?

If the latter, it might be time to get some expert assistance.

If you feel depressed, helpless, or hopeless all the time. Easily angered or [eat] wildly inconsistently. These are a few items you should be on the lookout for. One of the things we’re advising people to do in our Mental Healthcare Works campaign is to speak with a health provider about it if it’s a regular occurrence, according to Andrews, Jr.

If you’re having trouble, you can get support by calling the Mental Health Lifeline at 988, which is open 24 hours a day.