 | Joyce A. Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT). She owns Emotional Journey, LLC, which is a group, private practice made up of both male and females and which is located in Wichita, Kansas. We offer a full range of services including ‘talk’ therapy, sand tray therapy and therapeutic massage which all address the mind/body connection. We specialize in working with individuals (from tot to elderly), couples, families, and groups on a wide variety of issues. We also speak to groups or organizations on a variety of topics and offer chair massage at your business or group event. Emotional Journey, LLC is a member of many organizations, including The Wichita Chamber of Commerce, The Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Independent Business Association, and The Better Business Bureau. You may learn more by going to our web site: www.emotionaljourney.org, by telephone at (316) 295-4758, or through email: therapists@emotionaljourney.org. |
Health & Wellness
2008-12-31 10:43:00
Stress and anxiety
Question: I read your column last month on the Post-Holiday Blues. In addition to the ‘blues’ that you spoke of, do some people also struggle with stress and anxiety after the holidays? Why would people struggle with stress after the holidays, what causes stress and how do you know if you need professional help to cope?
Answer: Stress can be caused by many things: dealing with too much pressure and too many demands, as can occur during the holidays. Everyone experiences stress at times, including children and teenagers. Stress isn’t all bad. It can help to energize us so that we are able to meet a pressing deadline at work, it can occur in response to a marriage proposal, or to the birth of a newborn baby. But stress also occurs in negative situations; enduring a divorce, surviving a car accident, or grieving the loss of a spouse and all that is incurred as a result of such.
What is stress? It’s the body’s way of facing up to situations which require great concentration, energy, endurance, and an increased sense of awareness. Stressors cause stress and can include anything which places one in danger (real or perceived). It can include things as simple as speaking before a crowd, going to the doctor for a physical, attending a social function, or as frightening as a near-miss or actual car accident, flunking a college final, or surviving a rape or natural disaster.
When one of these events occurs, certain things take place in the body. The hypothalamus activates the adrenal gland, causing it to produce and release large amounts of adrenalin and cortisol into the bloodstream. Our vital signs increase; the heart pumps faster, the rate of breathing speeds up, our blood pressure increases, etc. Blood vessels open wider (allowing our extremities to move faster than usual). Our pupils dilate, causing sharper vision, increasing our awareness of any possible dangers. Glucose is released into the body, providing us with more energy than usual and our bodies begin to sweat, cooling our bodies so that we do not overheat to the point of collapse. This natural reaction is known as the stress response.
When faced with stressors on occasion, we can handle these situations, with little if any harm to our bodies. But when faced with on-going, heavy stress, we may not fare too well. Our nervous system may stay stimulated and we may begin to wear down over time. Our energy reserves become depleted, our immune systems weaken, we may become exhausted, and we may have difficulty in our everyday life.
After the holidays, we sometimes are more aware of being over-stressed for several reasons. When we are kept busy (as often happens during the holidays), we often do not notice the effect of this stress in our lives. But once the holidays have ended, we begin to slow down, often noticing it more. We might become more aware (and less in denial) of the fact that our families are not perfect: too much drinking, too many arguments, and too much disappointment. This can create emotional (and sometimes physical) pain for many. After the holidays we may realize that once more we were alone for the holidays. Or maybe this is the first holiday season without our spouse or special someone to share in the festivities. Maybe last season they were still alive and we had a grand time, making this past holiday season especially painful. Or maybe we just did too much shopping and baking, and attended too many holiday get-togethers, leaving us exhausted. Possibly for some of us, it was a combination of all of the above. Those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) brought on by war, childhood abuse, domestic violence (past or present), rape, a serious car accident, a natural disaster, etc., may have an even greater intolerance for stress during the holidays (and afterwards).
If you find yourself struggling after the holidays, you might consider seeking professional help. Signs might include the presence of anxiety or panic attacks, feeling constantly pressured or rushed, feeling irritable and moody for no apparent reason, struggling with sadness or depression, or having problems with sleep (falling asleep, awakening repeatedly, or early awakening). It might also include the presence of stomach aches and headaches, suffering with chest pain (although the doctor says your heart is fine), eczema, hives, or asthma. You might also find yourself struggling with increased drinking, smoking, overeating, or with the use of drugs (legal or illegal).
Everyone deals with stress differently and some people struggle with it more intensely or more frequently than others. But if stress begins to interfere with your life (physically, emotionally, and/or in your interactions with others), you probably should seek out the help of a qualified professional. Going for help is not a sign of weakness, but is instead a sign of strength. It shows that you recognize you are functioning at a less-than-optimal level, and prefer to cope in healthier ways.
