Hello counturblessins. Stress can certainly makes us more irritable, and can also zap our energy levels. Remember that stress does not only come from things we don't like - it can also come from positive situations (e.g., a job promotion, new baby, etc.)! If you really can't link it to anything about the upcoming holiday season, however, you may want to sit down and think about what else is going on in your life at the moment (e.g., when did you first notice feeling sluggish - where were you, what had been going on in your life - anything new?) or what seems to make it better and/or worse (e.g., times of day, certain places, people, etc.) and see if you can find patterns. If you are really stuck or feeling like things are getting worse, you can always contact your work EAP for assistance.
Hello okayokay1. Thanks for starting our discussion with such a good question! Rule number one with worry is to ask yourself if there is some productive action you can take that will help. In this case, I think there are several things you could do to ease your worry about your holiday plans, including talking to your family. But given that your son is 32, I would suggest that you at least talk to him first about your concerns (see how valid they are) and if necessary, incorporate him into any plans/actions you have with respect to talking to your family.
I feel horrible. I lashed out at a coworker. recently It wasn't that bad, just very out of character for me.
I also feel very sluggish when I go to the gym after work, like I cant put in the same amount of time there. Is this something to blame on stress? I like the holiday season, so I do not want to say I am finding it stressful. Just wondering what is going on that could make me feel wound up then tired, over and over. What do you think?
Hi Doctor.. so i have been stressing out because my son recently lost his job and i am worried about how this will trouble our holiday plans. He has had trouble with his temper that he has been working on but i know our family and they will probably ask him questions about his job... i do not know if i should say somethig to them ahead of time to make things smoother for us all, but i dont want him to know I did that because he is already so ashamed... He is 32. help!
Hello there! My name is Dr. Simon Rego and I am a Clinical Psychologist working at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. While at Montefiore, I have worked with many people who wanted to improve their stress management skills. If you just read the article here at Reader's Digest on "Managing Stress of the Holidays" then you must now be aware that the holiday season does not have to be a time of great stress! Therefore, my goal is to help you learn new ways to prevent holiday stress during this holiday season. However, this means that I am going to need your help! Over the next few weeks, I hope you will take some time to post any questions or stories you may have - as it is likely that other readers are feeling the same way. I look forward to reading - and responding to - your posts and having a good discussion on how to overcome the holiday blues!