Halloween is over, and the stores are already promoting Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. They started shifting into Thanksgiving and Christmas before Halloween had even passed! 

What do thoughts of the holiday season inspire? Do they remind you of fond childhood memories and new fun memories to come? If so, that’s a wonderful mental headspace to be in. But are there also thoughts of stress on your horizon this holiday season? 

Woman in santa hat sitting on a sofa looking upset. Holidays don't have to be stressful! Anxiety treatment in Tigard, OR with a skilled online therapist in Oregon can help.

Many of us get stressed out by the holidays, to some degree. Stress can be from work, like wrapping up projects, reaching revenue goals, and closing off the year. Stress can also be from family life, like making good memories for your family, making purchases, scheduling visits with loved ones that are often spread out across the country. It can even bring up feelings of loss, sadness, or depression. Holiday feelings can be a lot to unpack, and we’re subjected to it every year.

What do YOU want the holidays to look like?

Did you know that you are allowed to set some new goals and boundaries for yourself to create the kind of holiday season you want to have? I am giving you permission right now! YOU get to decide how you would like to approach this holiday season. Are there traditions or gatherings that aren’t working for you anymore? You can alter them or opt-out altogether! Protecting your mental health during this season is the priority, so let’s figure out what kinds of boundaries you can put in place now to ensure you take good care of yourself.

Prioritizing YOURSELF This Holiday Season

To do this, let’s spend a few minutes writing. We can start by creating a list of the good parts of the holiday season. What traditions, events, or aspects of the holidays are you excited about? If you’re having a hard time getting started, think small first. Do you love seasonal music? Have a favorite meal? Get to see a loved one? Put that all on your list. Try to get to ten or twenty items if you can. When you look at your list, do you get a sense of joy from it? Keep this list nearby for frequent reference.

Dog wrapped in holiday lights looking exhausted. Holidays don't have to be stressful! Get help from a Tigard, OR therapist for anxiety treatment via online therapy in Oregon here.

Let’s also create a list to take a look at the hard stuff. Again, start with the “easy” hard stuff. Were you ever disappointed by a gift as a child and have never let go of the moment? Are you stressed about making the perfect meal? Allow yourself to write out some of the really hard stuff, too. Did you have a big argument at the dinner table in the last couple of years about politics? Did you lose a loved one around the holidays? Do you miss the old days of family gatherings? Did you recently go through a break-up and are feeling lonely?

Give Yourself Props!

Now that you’ve gone through that exercise, give yourself a pat on the back and acknowledge what a good job you’ve done! It’s a big deal to allow yourself to be vulnerable, even just with yourself. Taking an honest look at our feelings is huge! It helps us understand ourselves and our needs much more clearly.

The hard stuff can be, well, so hard! What do we do about all of these worries and concerns? How can we navigate this holiday season with a new perspective, armed with coping strategies and realistic boundaries? Check out our recent blog post on Boundaries to help with that area (we teach you how to create them!). You could also look into getting some outside help (*hint hint* a therapist at Discover Counseling *hint hint*). 

Do you have a therapist already?

They are the right person to share your hard list with, and work on finding strategies that work for you. If you don’t have a therapist, there’s a number of ways to find one who will be the right fit for you. Although you can ask your friends and family who they see, it's best practice not to share a therapist with a close family member. What might surprise you though from asking is realizing just how many people in your life see a therapist!

There’s other resources, like Psychology Today, which has a tool to help match you with a therapist based on what types of care you’re looking for and where you live. You can also reach out to us directly at (971) 222-8166 or contact@discovercounseling.com and we’d be happy to meet you, share about who we are, and learn more about you. It’s up to you if you’d like to continue with us, and we’ll be sure to answer your questions to determine if one of our therapists is a good fit!

Happy upcoming holidays, everyone! May your days be merry and bright.

Consider Stress Counseling or Anxiety Treatment in Tigard, OR

Our team of skilled Tigard, OR therapists is ready to help you open up to self-discovery for therapy. Contact us today to talk about how we can help you start feeling more grounded and to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors. We offer both face-to-face (in-person) counseling sessions and online therapy In Oregon to residents throughout the state.

More Therapy Services at Discover Counseling in Tigard, OR

Not only can we help with relationship issues, anxiety, and depression, but we can also help navigate difficult life transitions. Especially, the grief and loss we are all feeling right now! This is an especially difficult time for engaged couples and couples on the brink of separation or divorce. Also, for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting couples. Basically, everyone is facing some type of stressor right now. Please let our therapists help you navigate this difficult time.