The holiday season is here and with it comes a mixture of feelings – some joyful, and full of laughter. While others may experience sadness or heartache. The holidays can be overwhelming with the endless lists, family obligations, pressures to shower people with gifts, and for more introverted people, to mingle with people they’d rather not be around.
Amy Andrukonis, Supervisee in Clinical Social WorkThe holidays can be a magical, stressful, joyful, heartbreaking, blissful, complicated time. If you (like me) notice that your emotions become heightened around the holidays, you may benefit from a special holiday self-care practice. I notice that I crave peace, solitude and comfort around the holidays, so I purposefully wake up an hour earlier each morning to linger in my pajamas, journal, listen to music, drink coffee, and give myself the ease and rest I know I may not be able to access for the rest of the day.
Taking this time for myself before the hustle and bustle begin allows me to enter the day with a “full cup,” instead of feeling depleted and overtaxed as I sometimes do during overstimulating holiday festivities. I challenge you to tune into what you might need this holiday season, and find a way to meet those needs in a self-care practice.
A quick search for statistics on stress levels during the holiday season showed that anywhere between 50% to 88% of Americans surveyed reported increased stress levels during the holiday season. During a time that is touted as bringing “tidings of comfort and joy”, people struggle to relax. The expectations of the season bring with them a myriad of stress inducers such as struggling with grief and loss, managing family visits/travel, change of schedules and structure, pressure to give gifts which can lead to financial strain, and so much more.
Additionally, the holiday season centers on the Christmas experiences, often causing children and families that share other traditions to feel insignificant and ignored. This winter season I offer the following suggestions to support reduced stress levels and increased inclusivity.
Until next year, Be Wise!
“I don’t think we could survive our kid without The Wise Family. Our clinician is so patient and such a compassionate person. She helps our child feel so in control of his body, and us so in control of our parenting.”
— Parent of 6 year old client“Supporting the mental health of the kids and teens in our community is one of the most challenging and also one of the most important jobs anyone could have. And I see your team doing it with both skill and enthusiasm.Our family could not be more fortunate to have found your practice 3 years ago.
Our kids are growing up but we still keep your number on our phone and we know we can reach out to your team if we need it. We tell everyone who asks about the WISE people at The Wise Family.
Thank you for doing what you do for so many people.”—from the parent of two former clients (siblings)
— Parent of two former clients (siblings)“Dr. Amy brings together the best emotion-focused strategies with cutting-edge brain science to change the lives of children and families”
— Parent of adopted twin girls
