Ask PBC: Your Mental Health Q&A Q: Every year, I am just overwhelmed by the holiday season. I feel as though I can’t enjoy this time of year because I am so stressed and exhausted. Any suggestions on what I can do? Licensed Psychologist omas Boyd, Psy.D., responds: Fairmount Early Childhood Center For many people, the December holiday season is a mixed blessing. e many pleasures of the season can o en compete with the vastly increased demands on our time, our nances and our emotions. We tend to see the holidays as an occasion to splurge and o en may be pulled in the direction of “overtures”: overeating, overdrinking, overspending and just generally overdoing. We may look forward to celebrating family traditions and spending time with friends, but these, too, can be a source of stress. Although positive feelings predominate during the holiday season, almost two thirds of people report stress. Even people who don’t generally deal with depression or anxiety can feel overburdened at this time of year. In addition to the added demands on our resources, some people may experience the holiday blues in the form of sadness, loneliness and anger. ese feelings may be engendered by unrealistic expectations for the holidays that then lead to a sense of disappointment, or by an awareness of everything that’s changed or stayed the same in our lives in the past year. Some general things to be attentive to during the holidays are your diet, your sleep, your time management, and your emotional balance. Here are some suggestions: Manage your time. Create a master to-do list and set up a schedule that lets you plan and divide your time e ciently. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the vague sense that there are endless things to do, identify each task and break it down into manageable pieces. Make a budget. Figure out how much you can reasonably spend and keep within that limit. It’s not the cost of the gi , but the thoughtfulness of it that counts. Watch your food intake. ere are so many food temptations during the holidays. You don’t have to pass up your favorite treats, but you also don’t have to overindulge. Make sure to get some exercise. Watch the alcohol intake. Set your limit and stick to it. It’s not about spirits, but about spirit. Take time to relax. Take time for yourself. Try to maintain your regular sleep patterns. Getting adequate rest is essential for warding o stress. You don’t have to wait until the party is over in order to leave. Manage your expectations. Be realistic about your expectations for the holidays and for what you can and cannot reasonably do. As families grow and change, the way that traditions are celebrated may also have to change. Try to be exible and resilient to the inevitable occasions where something doesn’t go according to plan or as you imagined it. “Your Mental Health Q&A” is part of a Beachwood community service program provided by PBC. Email your questions to info@psychbc.com. All identifying information will be held in strictest con dence in the PBC secure email system. The Fairmount Early Childhood Center is a private, district-sponsored learning center, offering a full school-year calendar as well as a summer preschool camp. Registration Preschool and Camp Preschool/Camp Parent Information Night Thursday, December 3, 2014 • 7 p.m. The Fairmount Early Childhood Center Non-Categorical (Special Education) Preschool is seeking typical peers (role models) for the 2015-2016 school year. This program offers four mornings or afternoons per week at significantly reduced rates. Preschool and Camp Registration Residents Wednesday, December 10, 2014 • 3:30 p.m. Open Enrollment Wednesday, December 17, 2014 • 3:30 p.m. New Young 5's Class 5 days per week • 9 am - 3 pm Must be 5 years old by Dec. 31, 2015 Call Karen Leeds today for more information, 216-292-2344. Learn how Fairmount Preschool will prepare your child for Kindergarten and Ohio's new 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee. 25101 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 100 Beachwood, OH 44122 216.831.6611 | www.psychbc.com Psychological & Behavioral Consultants Fairmount Early Childhood Center • 24601 Fairmount Blvd. www.beachwoodschools.org/fairmount.aspx December 2014 n Beachwood Buzz 13 15