Seasonal
Black Friday and Anxiety
Black Friday and Anxiety
written by Kristen Fuller, posted on Discovery Mood
Black Friday cannot only create anxiety, but it can also take away from valuable family time. Many Black Friday sales begin the night of Thanksgiving, so instead of eating dessert and sharing laughs, many people leave the house to stand in never-ending lines to get their hands on a coveted sale item. The advertisements are tempting with so many steep deals on technology, clothing and toys, but is Black Friday worth the anxiety and time lost with family members?
Black Friday is the official start of the holiday shopping season, but for many, holiday shopping anxiety takes a toll. If you struggle with feeling anxious about holiday shopping, you are not alone. Our society sets certain expectations about how wonderful the holidays should be. We are told that giving and receiving gifts should make us feel happy. These expectations often escalate very quickly and can become so grandiose that their fulfillment is no longer plausible. This leaves many individuals riddled with anxiety.
Taking a break from Black Friday shopping may not only curb your anxiety, but will also give you time to spend with your family and friends. Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving and allows you to shop online from the comfort of your home or office without having to deal with the crowds, long lines and the crippling anxiety that comes with these Black Friday stressors.
How retailers induce anxiety around the holidays
Retailers are known to promote a level of anxiety among holiday shoppers by depicting deals as being singular or exclusive, such as: “This deal will only last for 24 hours.”
Insisting that a deal is only good on a particular day or during a short window of time creates a sense of urgency, even if that deal might become available elsewhere during the year. This sense of urgency in marketing can promote anxiety in consumers because they fear they will miss out. These simple messages are advertising ploys to increase consumerism. Realistically, there are deals on items throughout the year.
Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.
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McLean’s Guide to Managing Mental Health Around the Holidays
McLean’s Guide to Managing Mental Health Around the Holidays
posted on McLean Hospital Website
Elvis once crooned about feeling blue at Christmas time—and we’re here to tell you: It’s perfectly normal to feel that way.
There are a variety of reasons why your days may not be merry and bright around the holiday season. It can be the jam-packed social calendar, deadlines at work, the loss of a loved one, sunless winter days, or all of the above.
According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed said their stress increased during the holiday season, which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. The reasons given include lack of time, financial pressure, gift-giving, and family gatherings.
To make matters worse, the National Alliance on Mental Illness noted that 64% of individuals living with a mental illness felt that their conditions worsened around the holidays.
However, there are ways in which we can prepare ourselves and hopefully deflect some of the increased stress of the holidays. It’s important to realize that we do have more control than we think we do.
However, it’s equally important to realize that even if we put these ideas into practice and continue to feel overwhelmed or depressed, professional help is available.
6 Signs You May Be Struggling Around the Holidays
We’ve identified six common issues that come up this time of year, as well as suggestions from our mental health experts for ways to address them.
1. You’re Lacking the “Holiday Spirit”
Being surrounded by cheeriness can be stigmatizing when you don’t feel the same level of enthusiasm as others.
The pressure to be social, happy, and present can make it difficult to speak up if you feel otherwise. You may also feel left out if your spiritual traditions aren’t the dominant ones on display this time of year.
8 Winter Sensory Activities for Children with Autism
8 Winter Sensory Activities for Children with Autism
posted on Hopebridge
With the winter solstice around the corner, many people are already in holiday mode and preparing for a new year. Some children may not notice or understand the change of seasons, others may be overwhelmed by it, and others may embrace it completely. No matter which side your child falls on, it’s a good time of year to incorporate new activities and learning experiences into their everyday play.
Whether you need ideas for children who are home for winter break or you just want a few easy ways to spice up the season in your back pocket, our Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers came up with a list of BCBA-approved, autism-friendly sensory activities to introduce children to the sights, scents and sounds of the season.
At Hopebridge, we believe in the magic of learning through play. In addition to making it a key part of our ABA therapy programs, it’s important to bring play to life at home, too. These at-home projects are intended to provide entertainment, education and engagement all at the same time.
These activities are great for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sensory processing disorder (SPD), but they can be exciting for neurotypical individuals, too! From toddlers to tweens, these experiments have the opportunity to strengthen self-regulation and help them cope with sensory intolerances.
Before you get started, remember that the best part of sensory activities is the engagement between you and your child. Play alongside them, talk about what each of you are doing and most importantly, have fun with it!