How to Survive Holiday Chaos
Learning how to handle uncertainty can guide us during this season of stress.
Each year, we are bombarded with idyllic images of the holidays. Visions of shiny presents. Fantasies of joyful family reunions. Holiday soundtracks piped into every store. Glittering Christmas displays that started before Halloween. Everyone is having a blast at holiday parties or sipping cocoa with loved ones by a crackling fire.
And then, there’s the rest of us.
All of this so-called Holiday cheer leaves many of us drained, disappointed, and guilty for just… not feeling it.
Many endure miserable family gatherings, rack up debt, feel alone and alienated, or feel overwhelmed by additional commitments. Hallmark images of family perfection remind us of what we don’t have (or never had). Sadness and grief are amplified for those already suffering from loss or worrying about loved ones in harm’s way. Complex emotions, such as guilt, envy, or regret, catch us by surprise.
In fact, an American Psychiatric Association survey found that ⅓ of people anticipate a stressful holiday season. And it is often worse for those struggling with mental illness or substance abuse. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people with a mental illness report an…
