What are some of the common causes of holiday stress we should guard against?

1. Setting Ones Social and Personal Expectations: To High … Expecting every moment of the holiday season to be one in which every one is happy, merry and in a party mood all the time, especially ones self; when these expectations are not met the feeling of anger and frustration sets in

• Condition your mind that neither being in a party mood nor feeling merry is necessity for one to enjoy the holidays.
• Keep in mind different situations and traditions should dictate the methodology used in celebrating. After all there hardly ever is just one best way for doing anything.

2. Excessive use of Food, Drugs, Or Alcohol to Cope With Stress… A great way to have fun and deal with your stress at the same time .Right? Wrong. If you're suffering from increased stress levels during the holidays, don't turn to food, drink, or drugs for relief because they work. Because the reality is in the long haul, they don’t’ Not only will they make you fat, obnoxious, and intoxicated, but more importantly, they will shield you from learning how to deal with the deeper causes of your Problems; every holiday season you'll end up in the same boat over and over again.. Hence, even though they work in the long run in the short run, they will cause one even more heart ache and stress, such as car wrecks, injuries to others resulting in legal problems, work and family problems; therefore are not good coping strategies. “So, how does one cope”, you ask? Well here are some coping strategies that have proven to work:

• Make a preemptive strike.
• Keep your hands busy
• Be ready for stress snack-attacks Store only healthy foods and non-alcoholic drinks.

3. Unpleasant Memories… It is not uncommon. Perhaps the death of a friend or close family member or a valued relationship came to an end Again you ask, “what remedies can one avail themselves. Here are just a few that

Remind yourself that some solitude and reflection is healthy and good; its okay not to be in a jovial mood all the time.

Next keep busy doing something you enjoy

Spend time as you are able with new friends and acquaintances. After all who knows they may become you’re new best friend.

4. Trying To Change Or Control Other People… Whether during the holidays or not, probably what causes one the greatest stress and drives one crazy is trying to control or change the way others behave. Then, with the failing to accomplish the impossible, one ends up feeling angry and frustrated. Solution, Recognize the old proverb “Do unto others as you would have done unto you; don’t

5. Blaming yourself or others when Things go wrong… Our first reaction is to automatically look around for some one or something to blame. It's not that one wants to respond this way, but the body has been programmed to do this instantaneously, whether one’s intellectually want to or not.; most of the time, this automatic assessment of blame wasn’t the blame after all other then trying to change or control others this is the greatest causes of stress. Again the result being feelings of anger and frustration; the solution being the same as trying to control others. Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Now that we have examined some of the major causes of holiday stress and identified some coping strategies, it is my hope that instead of this holiday season being a sleigh full of stress; It will be a holiday season full of joy peace and self contentment

I have been mdically retired for the past ten years. During which time ai have dabled in wriing articles, poetry, and playing pokr professionally. Recently the manager of the senior complex in which I live asked me to write a monthly article; I thought it would be fun to submit it here to see what happens

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