Emotional Distress During the Holidays

Emotional distress can occur at any time of the day. It makes you feel tired, angry, and more uncomfortable. This occurs when you are having a tough time forgetting about traumatic events from abuse, disaster, or events out of your control. Additionally, emotional distress makes you uncomfortable in your job, in public places, and your home. You feel sadness and feel the need to eat more.

Other times you may not want to eat. You feel less hopeful for the future.  However emotional distress can be a temporary moment, especially during the holidays.  The holidays make you feel nostalgic and anxious about the future while you anticipate a new day. Emotional distress is a stress response for your brain in a mental and physical aspect. 

The holidays can cause emotional distress and bring back traumatic events in one's life. Too many loud noises such as fireworks, thunder, and outside noise can produce anxiety. The nervous system gets more active during the holidays especially if you have emotional distress. You might be more fearful, sad, anxious, irritable, and nervous. Yet, emotional distress can be managed by doing the following items on this list. 

1. Close your eyes and think positively in silence. 
2. Calm your nerves by doing a hand or foot massage. 
3. Take a warm bath or soak your foot with Epsom salts and essential oils. 
4. Read in silence while you are in a comfortable position. 
5. Have a heart-shaped pillow or any other pillow shape to hold onto while you breathe slowly and exhale. 
6. Listen to a short, guided meditation through an app before celebrating the holiday with family, friends, and acquaintances. 
7. Distract your mind by doing something you enjoy like a puzzle, concentration game, or a quick word search. 
8. Use essential oils in your lotion after a warm bath. 
9. Allow yourself some time to write in a diary or a journal. 
10. Turn on a battery-operated candle or lantern and say to yourself, “I’m at peace, I’m healthy, and I'm full of strength."

This is a brief list. Yet, the important thing to do is to take care of yourself with self-care and self-love. Take care of yourself mentally and physically without asking yourself any questions. Emotional distress can also be an environmental factor especially if it happens during the seasons. Yet, managing your emotional distress does not prevent you from celebrating the holidays. 

You can still celebrate the holidays in a less noisy environment in your home or a quiet public place.  You can explain to your family and friends about your reasons for a quieter celebration. Nonetheless, find ways to stay calm so you can enjoy celebrating the holidays with positivity. Do not let emotional distress prevent you from doing things that you enjoy. Speak to someone about your nervousness and to help with your healing process. 

Keep in mind that not everything on this list can work for everyone. But adding these items can help you adjust. Also, emotional distress can be like depression. Seek professional counseling to help you with your recovery from emotional distress. Here are websites with more tips regarding emotional distress. 

 

Healthy Ways to Deal With Distress: 

https://psychcentral.com/stress/healthy-ways-to-deal-with-distress

Emotional Distress: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/emotional-distress

* Font, flowers, and artwork made in Photo Collage Editor Maker