The Veteran and The Stress of The Holiday Season

Happy Holidays to our Visory Veteran Community!

During this time of year, I want to say thank-you to all our Veterans and their families for your dedication, sacrifice and service to our nation.

The holiday season is a time of joy, family, and friends. “The most wonderful time of the year,” can also cause extra stress, demands, and exacerbate feelings of loneliness, isolation, and behavioral health issues.

In this blog, I will talk about holiday stress and how Veterans can manage that stress to enjoy a healthy and happy holiday season.

Why Are We Stressed During The Holidays:

The holidays are stressful for many people. It can be exhausting, hectic and at times, you may feel overwhelmed. Holiday physical demands, strain on finances and family/relationship concerns or inability to be with family can contribute to holiday stress.

For the Veteran, the holiday season be a time for self-reflection and planning for the year ahead. It may also be a time for remembrance of key dates and times that elicit regret and guilty feelings.  If you have been diagnosed or experience post-traumatic stress or a behavioral health challenge, these symptoms may also be heightened during the holidays.

Feelings You May Experience When Stressed:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue and/or unexplained body aches and pains
• Sleep changes: difficulty falling asleep; staying asleep or sleeping more than usual
• Overeating
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Worry
• Withdrawing from family or friends

Tips to Manage Stress During the Holiday Season:

• Maintain physical activity: take a walk or keep to your regular exercise routine.
• Get outside and enjoy nature and the seasonal changes in weather.
• Take some time for yourself and focus on activities that you enjoy.
• Practice relaxation techniques with deep breathing, meditation, or prayer.
• Express your feelings and don’t keep them to yourself; verbally or through journaling.
• Manage your time and expectations: don’t overextend your commitments.
• Learn to say no and set boundaries of what you realistically can and can’t do.
• Take time to serve others; volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and get a sense of camaraderie you experienced during military service.
• Make a budget to manage your finances.
• Keep healthy habits: eat healthy and try to avoid over-indulgence and excessive alcohol use.
• Remain flexible and give yourself grace, you are not perfect and that’s ok.
• Reach out to a battle buddy or wingman to touch base or catch-up.
• Take your medications as prescribed. At Visory, we make it easy to get your prescriptions at a lower cost with our Rx Savings Card.

Although the holiday season can be a time of great joy, reflection and reconnection,  we may also experience increased stress, sadness and isolation.

You can take purposeful steps to help decrease stress during this holiday season by following these practical tips and taking your medication as prescribed. If you’ve tried to use these tips and they are not working to decrease your stress, you may need to contact your healthcare provider.

At Visory Health, we see you and we hear you. You are not alone!

If the holiday season is overwhelming and you need to speak with someone, 24/7, you can contact the confidential Veterans Crisis/Helpline:  dial 988, then press 1 or chat online: VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.

Happy Holidays to our Visory Veteran community!

To Your Health,

Dr. C

 

To Know More About Managing Holiday Stress As A Veteran:

Va.gov: Tips for Managing Stress Around the Holidays ;  Helping Veterans Manage Holiday Stress

Cdc.gov: 12 Ways to Have a Healthier Holiday Season

 

This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational or educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diagnosis or treatment. If you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.