The holidays for most can be a time of joy and celebration, but it may also breed other difficult emotions such as stress, loneliness, and guilt.
Here are some holiday reminders:
Everyone has their limits and sometimes we are called on by others to do a lot. Be mindful of your limits and boundaries as well as when they are being crossed. Sometimes others need a reminder of where we are at and what we are able to take on at the moment – and we are allowed to remind them. (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) and it’s tools are found to be helpful in exploring boundary setting and learning to communicate with others in ways that respect both parties’ needs).
It is often easy to compare oneself and one’s situation to that of others around them, the holiday season is no exception. Remember it is not the turn out at the holiday party or the bounty of gifts under the tree that matter, but the quality of time shared and memories made. This holiday season, take the time to reflect on the positive moments from the year. What might you be feeling accomplished of? What might you be grateful for?
It can be stressful or scary to think about the upcoming year. Maybe you’re expecting a lot of the same challenges from the previous year or maybe you’re nervous about the prospect of change. Maybe you don’t even know where to begin in thinking about the matter. Psychotherapy can provide a great space to explore these worries and collaborate on solutions. You do not have to experience this alone.
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment with either myself, Claire Quenneville, Psychotherapist, or another Kitchener psychotherapist at CARESPACE. We are happy to listen and are here to help!
