Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Coping with Holiday StressA Guide for Residents and Stakeholders
Rev. David Eisenmenger
Director of Education, Research and Programming
Signature HealthCARE, LLC
Rev. Beth Causey
How Do You View the Holidays?
• Childlike Excitement? • Complete Dread?
Our Residents, Elders, and
Stakeholders often experience a
sense of loss and longing during
the Holidays
Often the holidays become a time of:
• Depression
• Grief
• Sense of not belonging
• Reflection on the value of life itself
Residents and Depression
• Some major factors contributing to holiday depression in the elderly are:
‒ Financial limitations
‒ Loss of independence
‒ Being alone or separated from loved ones
‒ Failing eyesight (and lessening of the ability to write or read holiday correspondence)
‒ Loss of mobility
Triggers for Depression
• It doesn’t take much to bring back a rush of
holiday memories. For example:
‒ The smell of cinnamon-scented pine cones
‒ Bing Crosby crooning “I’m dreaming of a White
Christmas”
‒ Old family photos
‒ A fresh-cut wreath
Seasonal Issues & Mental Health
• Stress is high during the holidays
• 41% of people rate the holidays as stressful as
asking for a raise
• 34% rate financial stress highest
• Post Holiday Let Down
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Exacerbation of pre-existing symptoms can occur
What does Holiday stress
look like?
Physical Signs and Symptoms of Stress
• Headaches
• Body aches and pains
• Fatigue
• Agitation/restlessness
• Insomnia
• Heartburn/digestive problems
• Clenching
Cognitive/Emotional Signs and
Symptoms• Irritability
• Sadness/Crying
• Hopelessness/Helplessness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Poor Concentration
• Memory problems
What’s the source of Holiday
Stress?• Loneliness
– Triggered by the inability to be with family
• Coping with loss
• Idealistic views of holidays
• Sense of cynicism
For Caregivers Daily Hassles Don’t Stop
for the Holidays
• Financial worries
• Time pressure
• Disruptions of schedule
• Work stress
• Overstuffed schedules
Interpersonal/Relationship Factors that
Increase Stress• Loneliness or isolation
• Dealing with loss
• Disappointments
• Crowds
• Communication break downs
• Family Issues
• Traveling
• Memories of holidays past – good or bad
How do you know when you’re
stressing?• Is your mood or feelings of stress impacting
those around you?– At work?
– At home?
Ways to Deal with Your Stress
• Deal with stress early
• Self care/recognizing our own stress responses
• Coping skills– Physical
– Cognitive/Emotional
– Behavioral
Ways to help Residents Deal With
Their Stress
• Take time to listen
• Utilize your Chaplain & Social Worker
• Don’t force participation in holiday
celebrations
Ways to help Residents Deal With
Their Stress• Provide resident the opportunity to give:
– Gifts of sentiment or appreciation
– “Thanks for being you!”
• Help Residents manage their own expectations
of their family
• Rather than trying to fix– Just let them know how much you care
Spirituality and the Holidays
• Holidays a time of reminiscence
• Spirituality can be comfort and strength
• Encourage residents to have contact with their
chaplain
Physical Coping Skills
• Maintain health
• Healthy eating habits
• Healthy sleeping habits
• Learn to read your body’s signs
• Exercise
• Get some sunlight
Cognitive/Emotional Coping Skills
• Be aware of and change expectations‒ expect the unexpected
‒ define “success”
‒ avoid unrealistic expectations
• Acknowledge feelings and share ‒ Especially sadness & grief
• Problem solve‒ Is this something I can change?
‒ If so, how?
‒ If not, how can I accept this or make sense of it in my life?
Cognitive/Emotional Coping
Skills• Set limits
‒ time, money, personal
‒ don’t let others push you into doing or not doing something
‒ be ok with saying NO
• Renew spiritual beliefs
• Set differences aside, let go of past resentments & forgive
• Learn to laugh
• Spend time with nurturing, supportive people
• Get in touch with others who you miss and have drifted away
• Don’t focus on past holidays - nor focus on the uncertainty of the upcoming experience
Behavioral Coping Skills
• Don’t over commit
• Balance obligations with fun
• Make life regular as clockwork
– set wake and sleep times
– specific recommendations for shift work
– recognize that Residents’ emotions may impact your own
Behavioral Coping Skills
• Journal
• Talk to others – (chaplain, friends, spouse)
• Take a break
• Don’t overwork
• Make a list and prioritize
• Postpone any big moves or changes
• Set goals and problem solve
Behavioral Coping Skills
• Increase socializing or decrease socializing, whichever recharges you best
• Plan fun activities‒ try something new
‒ do something old
• Try new traditions &/or lose old, harmful ones
• Take time off to renew self
• Volunteer in a different environment
Shopping• Know your triggers (shopping alone, shopping with
young kids, sales)• Limit use of credit cards• Repurpose gifts • Keep receipts – put in one spot• Find holiday sales before you start shopping• Research your items• Shop clearance racks and discount stores• Don’t wait until the last minute to shop (consider
starting DEC 26 for next year!
Gift Giving
• Don’t try to rationalize finding the perfect gift
– It will never be Enough
– It will never be Perfect
• Sometimes you just can’t find what you’re looking for
– Make it
– Draw names
Cooking
• Plan your menu early
• Shop from the ingredients list
• Solicit help
• Delegate minor tasks
• Pace yourself
Family Type• Understand your family traditions• Acceptance without:
– Shame– Guilt– Regret
• Learn to say “NO”• Set boundaries or time limits instead of
getting overwhelmed
Strategies with Family• Create new traditions with
family of choice.
• Maintain a good sense of balance between self and others
• Simplify life.
• Unplug electronics for specific periods of time.
• Slow down.
• Be mindful of what you’re thankful for.
Non Denominational Serenity
Prayer: God grant me the serenity to ACCEPT the
things I cannot change, the COURAGE to
change the things I can, and the WISDOM
to know the difference.
