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The Girl Without A Mom..."Thoughts on Grief, Life, and Living Authentically"
Thursday, November 08 2012
 It's that time of year again! The Holidays are coming, the weather is cooler, and 2013 is just around the corner.  Although this time is affectionately called, "The most wonderful time of the year" by some, for others it is just the opposite.  In my work with clients, I have seen increased levels of anxiety and depression, increased worry about finances, stress over Holiday pressures, sandess over being separated from family members, and reports in those who are grieivng of missing their loved ones more than other times of the year.  
Think about the Publix commericals each year depicting happy families gathered arounf a talbe full of food, or the Lexus commercials depicting the "perfect" Holiday present with a bow on top.  Is this reality? For some, sure, but for others, not even close.  These commercials leave out the part of the population who are suffering during this time, and assume that we are all happy, perfect families. 
Although this can be a rough time of the year for many, I believe there are ways to combat the Holiday blues, and have included some tips that just may work for you:

1. Prepare for the Holidays each year: If the Holidays are typically a tough time for you, begin paying attention to your feelings and behaviors around October/November each year.  If necessary, avoid television ads and movies that trigger negative feelings in you, and watch a funny movie instead.
2. Honor your feelings: Rather than pushing your feelings aside, acknowledge how you are feeling and allow yourself the time to really feel the anger, sadness, frustration, grief, or any other feeling that comes up for you.  It is amazing how much better you will feel after acknowledging your feelings, rather than pushing them away and dealing with them later, when they are often stronger. 
3. Use your support system: Surround yourself with people who love you and can support you during this time, not people who tell you to "suck it up" or "get over it." This is a time to ask for what you need from others, and also to let them know what you do not need in order to feel comforted.
4. Take care of yourself and pace yourself: Try and do something for yourself every day: take a walk, read a good book, watch your favorite movie, go to luch with a friend, cook your favorite meal, or take a bubble bath. It is also important to cut back on extra responsibilities during this time - at work, in your family, with friends, and with Holiday tasks in general.  This is a time to delegate responsibilities, ask for help from others, and put yourself first to make sure you do not get overwhelmed.
5. Maintain physical health: Physical and emotional health are linked together, so make sure you are getting enough rest each day, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. It is also recommended to get regular check-ups with your doctor, schedule an appointment with a chiropractor or acupunturist, or schedule a massage so you can relax. 
6. Seek counseling: If the Holidays are just too much for you to handle on your own, schedule an appointment with a counselor who can help you cope with the Holidays and give you coping skills to decrease anxiety and depression, cope with grief reactions, manage stress, and support you through the Holidays in general.  Even if you only schedule a few sessions, counseling will be very helpful and give you the tools to make it through the Holidays without feeling overwhelmed.
Posted by: Courtney Stewart AT 10:07 am   |  Permalink   |  Email

Healing with Time LLC
540 E. Horatio Ave. Suite 200
Maitland, Fl 32751
407.252.3087
Email: healingwithtime@gmail.com

Fl License MH10935

Couseling, grief counseling, anxiety counseling, adolescent counseling, and couples counseling for clients in these areas:  Maitland, Orlando, Winter Park, Seminole County, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Fern Park, Heathrow, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford,Tuskawilla, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Osceola County