(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Whether it’s fear of buying a wrong gift, throwing a disappointing holiday party or missing a loved one, the holidays can quickly turn into the most stressful time of the year.
“Reminding yourself that almost every single person will feel this emotion,” said Dr. Laura Wool, Chief of Loyola University Medical Center’s Psychology Department. “While they might not feel it, necessarily, like you do during the holiday season, everybody feels that emotion.”
She said self-compassion is key during the holidays, something that she compared to being on an airplane.
“They tell you to put the oxygen on yourself before others,” Wool said. “We tend to use that metaphor in caregiving situations in that we really do need to take care of ourselves first.”
Wool’s tips included acknowledging how you’re feeling and knowing it’s OK, reaching out for help, and even trying to quickly calm yourself down in an easy way.
“Just slowing our breathing down, taking a few, slow, deep breaths into our nose and out through our mouths,” she said. “That is one of the quickest ways to elicit the relaxation response in the body.”
If people aren’t around to help you get through the stress of the season, Wool added that there are a lot of different hotlines and support groups available, including from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Chicago, which provides a free, confidential helpline that can be reached at 833-626-4244.
The NAMI Chicago helpline can be reached Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s available on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok