How do you know if you are being engulfed with holiday anxiety and fear rather than cheer? We all have anxious or difficult days and we all experience changes in mood. Here is a helpful list of indicators that anxiety is taking over your holiday.

Sleep cycle is off
Nothing seems funny
Easily tearful
Peers are irritating
Kids are on your last nerve
Significant other is checked out
Tasks are being avoided
Traditions feel like chores
Can't think or concentrate well
Everything seems to be over priced
Hygiene suffers a bit
Running late seems to be the new norm
Self-medicating increases
Don't care about counting calories
Adopting the mindset that life is too hard
Blame others for distress
Physical or verbal attacking of others
Road rage
Over spending on others
Increased debt is suddenly okay
Withdrawal
Isolation

If items on this list characterize you, remember that help is available.
Reach out if you're feeling over whelmed. Your holiday can be marked by cheer, not fear.

Written by Modena Jenkins, LMSW, ICT Center.