Living with PTSD: Navigating Holiday Stress

Though the holiday season is heralded as a time of joy and happiness, the truth is that it can be quite difficult and even stressful for those affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Simply put, spending time at family gatherings can sometimes be more harmful than helpful, leading to feelings of numbness, isolation or agitation. And even the most sensitive and well-intentioned friends and family members may inadvertently trigger old memories or traumatic incidents.

The good news is that it is possible to mitigate holiday stress and navigate the holiday season—not just surviving it but perhaps even enjoying it.

Some tips for doing so include:

• Do what you need to do to ease your own holiday burden. If you find shopping malls to be stressful, do all your Christmas shopping online. And if you find it taxing trying to figure out what to give people, send electronic gift cards—clean and simple.
• Ask for help as you need it. If you are on tree decorating duty every year but do not feel up to it this year, let family members know that you need them to step in. If you do not want your usual responsibility of hosting the holiday party, let your family know that you are taking the year off. Lean on your loved ones to help pick up the seasonal slack.
• In the days leading up to Christmas and New Year, start preparing yourself for potentially high-stress situations. Get plenty of rest. Eat well. Practice some meditation, relaxation, or stress mitigation techniques.
• If you find yourself in a potentially stressful “trigger” situation, excuse yourself from the gathering. Rehearse what you are going to say in advance.
• Be proactive: Schedule some times for activities that you find to be comforting, nurturing, or simply fun.

Above all: Communicate. Let friends and family members know up front what your concerns are—and what they can do to help you through this stressful season.

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