Waiting until the last minute to do your holiday shopping is never a great idea. Likewise, for those with an anxiety disorder, waiting until the last minute to prepare yourself for the mental strain of the holiday season is a downright bad idea.
The American Psychological Association reports that 38% of Americans experience heightened stress and anxiety during the holiday season. Not only does the holiday season add multiple stressors to our everyday lives—time stressors, financial stressors, familial stressors, etc.—but there is also pressure to be jolly and joyous during this time of the year. This combination of real and perceived stressors can do a number on our anxiety symptoms, especially for those who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
The best way to prevent an anxiety attack and keep your anxiety symptoms under control during the holiday season is to plan ahead. Here are four tips to help manage an anxiety disorder during the holiday season:
1. Plan ahead. You know the road ahead is going to be bumpy, but which bumps are particularly bothersome to you? Identify the 2-3 stressors that trigger your anxiety symptoms the most, and come up with a plan to mitigate their impact.
2. Look forward to the aspects of the holiday season that DO bring you joy. Is there anything about the holiday season that makes you happy? Baking cookies? Grandma’s famous lasagna? Stay focused on the bright side of the season and be sure to schedule those joyous moments so they don’t get missed.
3. Secure a support system. Let the people you love know how you feel, and ask if you can lean on them for a little extra support during the holiday season. Schedule a few extra sessions with your therapist, or add online therapy to your repertoire of therapeutic activities that help you manage your anxiety disorder.
4. Carve out some “you” time. This could be as simple as making time for a 10-minute meditation in the morning, attending a weekly yoga class, or taking off for an entire weekend to do something you really enjoy.
For those who struggle with a severe anxiety disorder—or if an anxiety attack can take you fully out of commission—talking to a professional mental healthcare provider before the holiday season may be wise. Find out if they can prescribe a medication to help you cope with your anxiety symptoms, or contact VIP Ketamine Clinics to find out of you are a candidate for ketamine therapy.
Contact VIP Ketamine
VIP Ketamine Clinics of Modesto, CA offer ketamine therapy to patients struggling with severe depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other psychiatric disorders. If you have tried to manage your symptoms with other medications, but nothing has worked, ketamine could be the answer. Contact us using the brief form below to learn more about the innovative and effective anxiety treatment.