Coping With Holiday Stress

Coping with Holiday StressA Guide for Residents and Stakeholders

Rev. David Eisenmenger

Director of Education, Research and Programming

Signature HealthCARE, LLC

Rev. Beth Causey

How Do You View the Holidays?

• Childlike Excitement? • Complete Dread?

Our Residents, Elders, and

Stakeholders often experience a

sense of loss and longing during

the Holidays

Often the holidays become a time of:

• Depression

• Grief

• Sense of not belonging

• Reflection on the value of life itself

Residents and Depression

• Some major factors contributing to holiday depression in the elderly are:

‒ Financial limitations

‒ Loss of independence

‒ Being alone or separated from loved ones

‒ Failing eyesight (and lessening of the ability to write or read holiday correspondence)

‒ Loss of mobility

Triggers for Depression

• It doesn’t take much to bring back a rush of

holiday memories. For example:

‒ The smell of cinnamon-scented pine cones

‒ Bing Crosby crooning “I’m dreaming of a White

Christmas”

‒ Old family photos

‒ A fresh-cut wreath

Seasonal Issues & Mental Health

• Stress is high during the holidays

• 41% of people rate the holidays as stressful as

asking for a raise

• 34% rate financial stress highest

• Post Holiday Let Down

• Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Exacerbation of pre-existing symptoms can occur

What does Holiday stress

look like?

Physical Signs and Symptoms of Stress

• Headaches

• Body aches and pains

• Fatigue

• Agitation/restlessness

• Insomnia

• Heartburn/digestive problems

• Clenching

Cognitive/Emotional Signs and

Symptoms• Irritability

• Sadness/Crying

• Hopelessness/Helplessness

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Poor Concentration

• Memory problems

What’s the source of Holiday

Stress?• Loneliness

– Triggered by the inability to be with family

• Coping with loss

• Idealistic views of holidays

• Sense of cynicism

For Caregivers Daily Hassles Don’t Stop

for the Holidays

• Financial worries

• Time pressure

• Disruptions of schedule

• Work stress

• Overstuffed schedules

Interpersonal/Relationship Factors that

Increase Stress• Loneliness or isolation

• Dealing with loss

• Disappointments

• Crowds

• Communication break downs

• Family Issues

• Traveling

• Memories of holidays past – good or bad

How do you know when you’re

stressing?• Is your mood or feelings of stress impacting

those around you?– At work?

– At home?

Ways to Deal with Your Stress

• Deal with stress early

• Self care/recognizing our own stress responses

• Coping skills– Physical

– Cognitive/Emotional

– Behavioral

Ways to help Residents Deal With

Their Stress

• Take time to listen

• Utilize your Chaplain & Social Worker

• Don’t force participation in holiday

celebrations

Ways to help Residents Deal With

Their Stress• Provide resident the opportunity to give:

– Gifts of sentiment or appreciation

– “Thanks for being you!”

• Help Residents manage their own expectations

of their family

• Rather than trying to fix– Just let them know how much you care

Spirituality and the Holidays

• Holidays a time of reminiscence

• Spirituality can be comfort and strength

• Encourage residents to have contact with their

chaplain

Physical Coping Skills

• Maintain health

• Healthy eating habits

• Healthy sleeping habits

• Learn to read your body’s signs

• Exercise

• Get some sunlight

Cognitive/Emotional Coping Skills

• Be aware of and change expectations‒ expect the unexpected

‒ define “success”

‒ avoid unrealistic expectations

• Acknowledge feelings and share ‒ Especially sadness & grief

• Problem solve‒ Is this something I can change?

‒ If so, how?

‒ If not, how can I accept this or make sense of it in my life?

Cognitive/Emotional Coping

Skills• Set limits

‒ time, money, personal

‒ don’t let others push you into doing or not doing something

‒ be ok with saying NO

• Renew spiritual beliefs

• Set differences aside, let go of past resentments & forgive

• Learn to laugh

• Spend time with nurturing, supportive people

• Get in touch with others who you miss and have drifted away

• Don’t focus on past holidays - nor focus on the uncertainty of the upcoming experience

Behavioral Coping Skills

• Don’t over commit

• Balance obligations with fun

• Make life regular as clockwork

– set wake and sleep times

– specific recommendations for shift work

– recognize that Residents’ emotions may impact your own

Behavioral Coping Skills

• Journal

• Talk to others – (chaplain, friends, spouse)

• Take a break

• Don’t overwork

• Make a list and prioritize

• Postpone any big moves or changes

• Set goals and problem solve

Behavioral Coping Skills

• Increase socializing or decrease socializing, whichever recharges you best

• Plan fun activities‒ try something new

‒ do something old

• Try new traditions &/or lose old, harmful ones

• Take time off to renew self

• Volunteer in a different environment

Shopping• Know your triggers (shopping alone, shopping with

young kids, sales)• Limit use of credit cards• Repurpose gifts • Keep receipts – put in one spot• Find holiday sales before you start shopping• Research your items• Shop clearance racks and discount stores• Don’t wait until the last minute to shop (consider

starting DEC 26 for next year!

Gift Giving

• Don’t try to rationalize finding the perfect gift

– It will never be Enough

– It will never be Perfect

• Sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for

– Make it

– Draw names

Cooking

• Plan your menu early

• Shop from the ingredients list

• Solicit help

• Delegate minor tasks

• Pace yourself

Family Type• Understand your family traditions• Acceptance without:

– Shame– Guilt– Regret

• Learn to say “NO”• Set boundaries or time limits instead of

getting overwhelmed

Strategies with Family• Create new traditions with

family of choice.

• Maintain a good sense of balance between self and others

• Simplify life.

• Unplug electronics for specific periods of time.

• Slow down.

• Be mindful of what you’re thankful for.

Non Denominational Serenity

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the

things I cannot change, the COURAGE to

change the things I can, and the WISDOM

to know the difference.