Holiday Stress Triggers & Solutions

[jodigirl750]

Hi Guys! I don't post often, but I read regularly ! I am 52, diagnosed 2 years ago, on aubagio. My MS effects me mostly cognitively. I have learned so much looking back at what were the signals and triggers I missed before diagnoses.

My question is how do you handle the holiday stress? I have large family living all over the states. Just thinking about gift buying, organizing, shipping... I also entertain a small group of friends for Thanksgiving and Christmas - dinner, Christmas present exchanges. Thank God for my wonderful husband doing most of the work! We have fun, I get through it, but I also pay the price.

This year I am trying harder to reduce the stress bc that is the big trigger. We have cancelled Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner, and we are going camping instead in our RV! Gifts are going to be gift cards (which some family members do not like) or small handmade things I enjoy doing. I feel bad because it's not the way I like to do things. I also miss the days when I thought I could endure all the craziness, not knowing it was quietly killing me...

Next year I will reduce some more. It's just hard to be this person you were and friends and family not understanding who you are now. I look fine, right!?!? If they could only see inside my brain...

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi jodigirl750 nice to meet you!😊 I'm not sure there is an easy answer for that. But I'm loving your idea! Can I go RV'ing with you?😀

For me, I had to give myself permission! To let things go! The world 🌎 didn't end or fall off its axse when things weren't perfect!😄 And I think the only one that knew was me anyway.😊

So give yourself permission to do what's best for YOU! 💕 And everything else, will hopefully, just fall into place.😊

Happy Thanksgiving!💕

Jes 🌠

[jackiesj]

Welcome! We need that list of Christmas/holiday less stress list....TY for the start, gift cards, have parties meals somewhere else or i may call it in. My big one is SLEEP/REST/NUTRITION....permission to say no without guilt....love it.

Gonna start to put meals together for each day the day before.Snatch and grab helps.Yogart, apples blueberries thawed etc.

Don't forget your amount of smiles, laughs kisses to animals..a good joke.A pic of loved ones.You ALL are just gems.....real gems.