Why is Christmas stressful you ask. This time of year comes with very high expectations – of everything being perfect and families getting together to celebrate. It’s the time of good cheer, time off work, relaxation, exchanging gifts and eating wonderful food…But it is not always easy to live up to these ideals, and Christmas can be anything but Merry!

The reality for a lot of us can be very different.

Christmas can be a source of great stress for many. Family conflicts and estrangements as well as financial pressure – all of which create feelings of stress, anxiety and despondency.

If you’ve experienced a past trauma at this time, the unpleasant memories can be re-triggered. If you have been recently bereaved, Christmas can intensify feelings of sadness.

Why is Christmas stressful?

We are constantly bombarded from mid-November with adverts, films, songs in shops about this “jolly time of year.” Social media shows us how “everyone” is having just the most “perfect” time and this can create feelings of frustration and disappointment.

We tend to have more visitors so there is the additional pressure of food preparation and present buying and all the planning in the run up to creating this “special” day.

In the UK, the lack of light in December can have an impact on mood and for those with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) there is a real struggle with loss of energy and negative mindset.

Christmas is a time for family and, if you do have a family, this can actually bring more stress than happiness. It is an enforced time of hours spent in each others’ company and having a house full of people can create feelings of claustrophobia and a lack of privacy. Long-held differences can boil over into arguments which can result in tense atmospheres and rows across the table!

Given all of this, it is no wonder that people tend to turn to the rich food and alcohol to blot it all out and this can create even more problems, making us feel unwell, bloated and hungover!

How can hypnotherapy help?

It is, however, possible to manage the stress that all of this can bring. Hypnotherapy can help you to re-frame your thoughts and feelings around Christmas in order to set realistic expectations. It can be a brilliant time but being aware of the pitfalls will help you to plan and to enjoy it more.

So, if you would like to have a little re-set and some time of calm before it all begins, then do get in touch with me for an online appointment.