What is holiday stress?
Holidays are rarely all snowflakes and candy canes. While greeting cards would have you believe otherwise, many Americans experience holiday stress for a variety of reasons.
“Nearly a quarter of Americans reported feeling ‘extreme stress’ come holiday time,” according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. “Holiday stress statistics show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by the feeling of having a ‘lack of time,’ 69 percent are stressed by perceiving a ‘lack of money,’ and 51 percent are stressed out about the ‘pressure to give or get gifts.’” (1)
Holidays are typically family time, and the stats above don’t include the stress that is associated with families, including: dealing with loss, breakups, in-laws, and family expectations. And while we all try to get through the holidays without someone talking politics, frankly that’s just not possible anymore.
How to manage holiday stress
Before reaching for that bottle of bourbon, consider that some of the ways we mitigate stress can be harmful to our bodies and lead to more, and perhaps even more dangerous, stress.
There are other, natural and healthy ways to ease stress, which includes cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is a compound from the hemp plant, the same plant that produces other cannabinoids including THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. The difference between marijuana and hemp is that marijuana contains high amounts of THC and low CBD, and hemp contains high levels of CBD and low THC (2).
CBD products, like oils, gummies, and capsules, can help support good mental health by working with your body’s own endocannabinoid system (ECS). The cannabinoids in CBD bind to receptors in the ECS and help it to do its many jobs, one of which is to help control reactions to stressful stimuli – like a mother-in-law staying in your house for a whole week.
Other holiday stress tips
In addition to CBD, it’s important to take some time for self-care during the holidays. It’s essential to staying grounded and being present at an important time, in order to build memories with those you love.
Meditation, even if it’s just for a few minutes, can be a huge help. It can clear your mind of your worries and focus your attention on the important things surrounding the holidays. In the same way, yoga can be beneficial to your mental health.
It’s also never a bad time to seek out professional help. A trusted therapist can be a great sounding board for your worries and unpleasant thoughts around the holidays. This is particularly true if a lot of drama swirls around your family or if your family is broken in some way.
Let’s be real: holidays are seasons of unhealthy food, over-indulgence, missed workouts, and staying inside. Try to keep up as much of your off-holiday routine as possible. However, also give yourself permission to treat yourself during this time. It’s the holidays, after all!
CBD is a healthy and natural way to avoid spending too much time with Jack Daniels or to keep family issues from making your stress spiral out of control. Place a dropperful of CBD oil under your tongue, chew a gummy, or swallow a capsule and let the cannabis compounds work their magic to bring about comfort and joy for the holidays. ‘Tis the season!
Sources
- “Holiday Stress.” Clarity Clinic. Published: 21 June 2021. Accessed: 19 Oct. 2022. <https://www.claritychi.com/holiday-stress/>.
- “What you should know about CBD.” Sanford Center for Aging. Published: 14 April 2021. Accessed: 19 Oct 2022. <https://med.unr.edu/aging/ngec/health-info-for-you/cbd#>.
