Powerful Stress Relievers You May Need

The best cure is prevention, but you may still encounter stressors that you feel you cannot cope with during the holiday periods. You can prepare yourself by making a list of possible stress relievers you may want to tuck into if the worst happens. Not every stress relief technique will work for you. You will not have time to try these all out before Christmas starts, but you probably have a good idea about which will and will not do the trick.

Phsysical Activity

Go for a brisk walk, a jog, or do some push-ups. Vigorous physical activity will release endorfins that will make you feel a little better. If you go outside of the house to get your work-out fix, you will also get an actual break from the people that are annoying you, or from the situation you cannot cope with. Thirty minutes is a good amount of time to get your heart rate up and your anxiety levels down.

Meditation

There are many meditation techniques that may benefit you. At a basic level, sit down in a quiet area and close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Breathe all the way in, and al the way out and make sure to use abdominal breathing. Think peaceful, positive thoughts. Imagine you're on vacation in Jamaica. Pray if you are religious. Take a nap.

Journaling

Journaling (AKA keeping a diary) probably worked for you as a teen, and there is no reason it can't work now. Write down how much you hate your brother in law, how anxious your grandma's alcoholism makes you, or how disappointed you are with how this celebration turned out. You may not be able to say all these things out loud, but you can still get it off your chest.

A wonderful alternative to journaling is venting on an internet discussion board you are part of. You will be able to say what bothers you and get hugs in return. Hey, there will even be lots of people who feel exactly the same. If you're reading this, you may well be a member of the SteadyHealth community. Members here can definitely help you keep sane during the holidays.

Medical stress relief

Those people who are extremely anxious and find that mental or physical stress relief does not work may need a stronger solution. Valerian is a herb that is commonly used to create a tincture that will help fight both insomnia and anxiety. It is available from many health food shops. Valium is a modern medicine's answer to it. If you feel you may need one of these, I suggest making an appointment with your doctor now for a consultation and perhaps a prescription.