Prepping for the Holidays After a Difficult Year by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
The upcoming winter holidays can be especially difficult for individuals whose year has been affected by a major setback or a change that has altered their life. The thought of the holiday season can stir up concerns about confronting others or comparing their current situation to those who seem to be doing well.
Things to consider:
Honor your circumstance and your feelings about it. Acknowledging the difficulties you’ve experienced, and your right to those feelings, can help minimize thoughts about how your life doesn’t measure up to others. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to prepping for the holidays, and making it through a tough year shows a lot of strength.
Handling comparisons. The automatic go-to is to compare ourselves to others, but what if, instead, your thoughts are shifted to comparing how you were at the beginning of the change/setback or during the difficult part of it, to how are you doing now or how you’ve been getting through it? Doing so may help you discover how far you’ve come and how much strength you have.
Thankfulness and presents. It’s usually about others this time of year; let’s turn it inward. Were there actions you did that helped you? Were there positive things that happened because of what you set into play? When it comes to presents, don’t forget about yourself. Gift yourself something that’s meaningful to you in a way that works for you. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical gift.
Inner circle. When it comes to others, cherishing the moments with your positive connections, such as close friends, specific family members, community members, and/or spiritual connections, can help.
Boundaries. Are there individuals at an upcoming get-together or party that may potentially deplete your emotional reserve, who lack understanding, or historically have left you with negative feelings? If so, it may help to game plan how you will maneuver around them, or the amount of interaction you feel comfortable engaging in with them.
You don’t have to do this alone. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult. I provide video therapy to California residents.
My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.