It’s the time of year where holiday stress has kicked into full effect for many of us. And with that, we easily feel overwhelmed. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Round Rock Psychotherapist Kelly McCabe offers advice to cope with the hustle and bustle.
“Stress and feelings of being overwhelmed are warning signs and they need to be taken seriously,” she said. “Sit down with a family member or friend and have a heart-to-heart discussion about what’s going on in your life. Consider everything from long work hours and deadlines to the stress of relationships with family and friends, holiday shopping and upcoming holiday parties.”
McCabe suggests you work with family, friends and others to create a plan to deal with the pressure and try to restore well-being. Some examples include:
• Only accept party invitations with people you want to spend time with. Don’t feel pressured to say “Yes” to everyone. Set boundaries.
• Reduce long hours at work, set additional boundaries with relatives, friends and coworkers, or delegate projects.
• Refocus your mind and body. Get a relaxing massage, visit a friend and take a multivitamin daily and work out daily.
If you tend to feel down during these shorter days of Fall and Winter, you’re not alone. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of clinical depression that affects people generally in the fall and winter and its estimated to affect 10 million Americans. A home remedy is to get more exposure to sunlight, go outside for lunch, or, if at all possible, try to adjust your work hours so you get home earlier.
SAD can come about with symptoms that may include having low energy, hypersomnia, overeating and weight gain and social withdrawal.
McCabe said symptoms of SAD can potentially be alleviated by psychotherapy or counseling, light therapy like daily exposure to a light box that simulates artificial sunlight and diet, exercise and maximizing the amount of daylight exposure.
“Consider getting professional help if your stress becomes all-consuming and you begin feeling persistent anxiety or depression,” she said. “A professional can evaluate your lifestyle and recommend treatments and stress-reduction techniques that can help with coping, enhance your immune system and protect you from future problems.”
See the full article here: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/tis-the-season-for-stress-here-are-ways-curb/W51aJZuIcSbu1uQYK9jX4L/