With Christmas … stress also usually comes. In these days reserved for social engagements and multiple traditional activities, the Nascia centers have presented their sixth annual report on the state of stress that we live in at Christmas time.
Christmas shopping and lunches / dinners / gatherings intensify symptoms of physical and mental fatigue. Bad eating habits and lack of exercise also contribute to anxiety and stress. 65% of the participants consulted experience generalized stress and anxiety situations both in the days leading up to Christmas and during the holidays.
The factors that contribute the most to stress: the economic situation, expenses, the accumulation of social commitments, general fatigue and Christmas messages. Reconciling work with family life at this time of year is not easy either.
The study shows that the group most affected by stress is women. The proportion of women affected by the symptoms derived from this problem is twice that of men, due to greater responsibility and dedication in the preparations. Not having vacations or days off on those dates adds an ‘extra’ of anxiety for women.
How do people with stress and anxiety feel these days?
The report shows definite physiological symptoms in which the most frequent symptoms are insomnia (62%), headaches (55%), muscle aches (75%) and stomach problems (58%). However, 68% acknowledge having an excess of negative or recurring thoughts, while 71% show much greater irritability and 83% assume a feeling of lack of control at many times.
As a consequence of this state of stress and anxiety, 85% of people tend to breathe poorly with irregular patterns, and hyperventilate in some cases. These respiratory disorders lead in the long term to chronic fatigue, tachycardia, a feeling of suffocation …
To avoid this, it is recommended to do training in non-thoracic abdominal breathing, and re-educate our breathing so that in moments of greatest stress and anxiety the correct pattern is automatic and natural.
Thus, to enjoy the holidays, the best thing is: when shopping, use realistic budgets and preferably buy from children. Prepare a shopping list, buy online and, in the case of going to stores or shopping centers, do it early in the morning to avoid crowds and avoid stressful situations. From an emotional point of view, try to adjust our expectations and relativize events that occur in a day. Reserve a space for your own and personal care. When we are in a family reunion, try to avoid topics that generate discussion or are compromising.
Finally, the key is in moderation and balance. Get enough sleep, practice moderate exercise and try to regulate the diet during those days avoiding Christmas binges that do not help us in anything or our health or anxiety processes.
Source: Nascia.com
