This time of year can be especially stressful. With running around going to all of the holiday events, planning your own events, buying presents, family coming to town, or you going out of town, there is a lot to do. Having lots of tasks and worrying about the season being as perfect as it can be can bring overwhelming amounts of stress. So, it can be helpful for people who are living with stress and anxiety to understand what to do when they’re feeling this way. Fortunately, there are a few ways to deal with stress in everyday life and during the holidays that are helpful in reducing stress and providing relief.

Dealing with Stress in Different Ways

While the holiday season can mean more stress for anyone, dealing with high levels of stress even if it’s not the holiday season may be a sign of something more serious like an anxiety disorder. Characteristics of anxiety disorders include dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety even if there isn’t any cause or reason for stress. For people living with these types of mental health issues, it is crucial to find ways to manage stress levels as they can debilitate daily life.

Some ways to practice stress management in your daily life can include:

• learning more about mindfulness and practicing it in your daily life through journaling, meditation, breathing exercises, etc.
• going out into nature
• writing down what you’re grateful for in your life right now
• accepting how you’re feeling and giving a name to your emotions
• exercising
• using relaxation techniques like massage therapy, yoga, or acupuncture

While it can be challenging to implement new things into your daily life, when they become a part of your routine, you can begin to understand how crucial they are to moving forward and managing stress. Additionally, it is important to identify how you’re feeling, even though it requires you to focus on your stress. This can help you to accept your thoughts and emotions so that you can identify what triggers them. And, also identify what works to overcome these emotions at the moment.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

If you feel like you’re consistently dealing with high levels of stress even when it’s not during the holiday season, this may be a sign that you’re living with an anxiety disorder. Fortunately, along with utilizing stress management techniques like the ones listed above, professional help through treatment can help.

Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders can look like:

• not being able to fall asleep or get good quality amounts of sleep
• feeling annoyed or irritated (mood swings)
• consistently worrying about things that are out of your control
• avoidance behaviors
• physical symptoms like migraines, stomach issues, and chest pain
• exhaustion
• issues with concentration

Getting Help with Anxiety Issues

While using stress-relieving techniques on a daily basis can help to reduce stress, for people with anxiety disorders, this may not be enough. Treatment offers services like individualized therapy, group therapy, and prescription medications that are effective in helping people living with anxiety disorders manage stress and anxiety. Yellowbrick offers these services on an outpatient basis for young people. Find out more about our services from our website.