Learning ways of coping with holiday stress is incredibly important for the person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their loved ones. Holidays are usually viewed as a special time for friends and family. For many people, it is a time to catch up and connect with those that we care about. The holidays, though, can also be a time of tremendous stress, especially for someone with PTSD and their close friends and family. Therefore, it is very important to learn ways of coping with the stress of the holidays. Here are some methods:
There are a number of healthy things a person with PTSD can do to manage stress associated with the holiday season. The healthier your coping strategies are, the less likely you will need to rely on unhealthy ways of coping, such as alcohol use or avoidance. Read about them here.
Holidays are a time for celebration, and this can occur in a number of different ways. It does not necessarily have to involve getting together with family or friends. You can celebrate the holidays in many different ways. That is, redefine what the holidays mean to you. Connect with the spirit of the holidays in a way that is personal and meaningful to you. This article provides some tips on how to do just that.
Learning ways of coping with large crowds during the holiday season is important for people with PTSD. Shopping is often a major part of the holiday season, and many retail stores offer deals that only come around once a year. With these sales, though, come large swarms of people trying to take advantage of these great deals. Dealing with large crowds is stressful for most people; however, large crowds may be particularly stressful if you have PTSD and may trigger PTSD symptoms. There are ways of coping with large crowds, reducing the likelihood of experiencing high levels of fear and anxiety. Learn about them here.
It is important for the person with PTSD to learn ways of coping with alcohol use during the holidays. People with PTSD are much more likely than those without PTSD to abuse and/or be dependent upon alcohol, which may be used as a way of coping with or self-medicating the distressing feelings that often go along with a PTSD diagnosis. Given this, people with PTSD may be at a greater risk of abusing alcohol over the holidays, a time when people sometimes increase their alcohol consumption. So it can be important for the person with PTSD to learn some ways of coping with cravings for alcohol during the holiday season.
The holidays are usually a joyous occasion — a time for families to come together and spend time with one another. When a family member has PTSD, though, the holidays may become a stressful time for all involved. A family member's PTSD does not have to negatively impact the holiday season. There are things that you can do to make sure the holiday season is pleasant and enjoyable for everyone.
During the holidays, PTSD triggers may be all around you. Even though it may sometimes feel as though PTSD symptoms come "out of the blue," PTSD symptoms rarely spontaneously occur. Instead, whether you are aware of it not, PTSD symptoms are often triggered or cued by something in our internal or external environment. Since certain holiday situations can bring up uncomfortable PTSD symptoms, one way of coping with these symptoms is by increasing your awareness of these triggers. You can prevent or lessen the impact of certain PTSD symptoms by identifying what specific experiences trigger them and then take steps to limit the occurrence or impact of those triggers.
If you have PTSD, then you likely know that your PTSD symptoms can occur at any time and in any place. PTSD triggers are all around (especially during the holidays), and it may not take much for a trigger to cause intrusive memories and thoughts about a traumatic event, symptoms of hyperarousal and hypervigilance or emotional distress. Therefore, given that the occurrence of PTSD symptoms can be unpredictable, it is important to create a safety plan for coping with them when they occur.
The New Year is a time when people often commit to making positive changes in their lives. This may be particularly important for the person with PTSD, especially given that it is often associated with a number of unhealthy behaviors. If you have PTSD, you may want to consider the New Year resolutions presented in this article.
