The holiday stress season is reaching its annual crescendo, only this year it’s worse and destined to last into January, a local expert says.
Along with the usual dashed expectations, disappointments and shallowly buried family conflicts, there’s real trouble.
The economy is a disaster and thousands of people fear for their livelihoods, said Douglas Mennin, director of the Yale Anxiety and Mood Services Clinic.
So even after New Year’s Eve comes and goes, the future may seem bleak, he said.
“The holidays are always a stressful time. Depressed people become more depressed. Families are a source of conflict and stress,” he said.
“This year there are increases in stress. Fifty percent of the population say that they’re increasingly stressed. They have monetary concerns,” Mennin (pictured) said.
Stress — the impact of the environment on the body and mind — is inevitable, and sometimes motivates people and improves their performance, he said.
“That’s stress in the service of good. When there’s too much, or you’re not coping, it’s a problem,” he said.
The too-stressed feel overwhelmed. Their immune systems weaken. Cardiovascular function decreases. Some evidence suggests that brain cells die.
“People drink, and don’t eat, or over-eat. The daily stresses that are predictable can be prolonged, making them even worse,” he said.
“My experience is that I see a slight increase in patients in January and February,” said Mennin, who is also associate professor of psychology at Yale.
What To Do About It
Some simple measures can lessen stress, Mennin said.
For example, think about what you can actually control. Reconcile yourself to the many stressors that are beyond your control.
Use your time more efficiently. Plan realistically. Try to enjoy the moment, rather than controlling it. “Use the facts on the ground. Don’t let them run away.”
Seek social support. Talk to friends.
“Perspective — talking — works. Get more perspectives on the problems that give you stress,” he said.
Also, move.
Exercise is a strong reliever of anxiety, Mennin said. That includes yoga, walking, any physical activity you’re comfortable with. Take slow, deep breaths. Try meditation.
“Just be one’s self. Show selflessness and kindness. People like to be validated,” he said.
This may seem silly, but sometimes acting happy, twisting your face into a smile, can actually make you feel happy, he said.
Above all, don’t magnify the unpleasant aspects of your life and then allow them to run wild. Stick to the facts on the ground, he said.
“If people try these things and they still have problems there are community mental health centers,” Mennin said.