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Category: Anxiety

Holiday Anxiety: Strategies to Stay Calm with Online Therapy and Psychiatry

Posted on by Colony Care Behavioral Health in ,

The holiday season can be a magical time, but it’s also a period that often brings heightened anxiety for many people. Whether it’s the stress of social gatherings, body image concerns, or the pressures of travel, navigating the holidays while managing your mental health can be challenging. Thankfully, connecting with a mental health clinician online through telemedicine offers a convenient and effective way to prioritize your well-being during this busy season.

Here’s how mental healthcare can support you and strategies for integrating it into your holiday routine.

Common Triggers of Holiday Anxiety

For many, the holidays amplify feelings of anxiety due to several common stressors:

  1. Social Gatherings: The holidays often bring an uptick in parties and family gatherings, which can feel overwhelming, especially for those who experience social anxiety. The pressure to make conversation, meet expectations, or navigate challenging family dynamics can heighten stress levels.
  2. Body Image Concerns: From indulgent holiday meals to the ever-present fitness goals tied to New Year’s resolutions, the season often triggers body image struggles. Social comparisons and unsolicited comments about appearance can add to these feelings.
  3. Travel Stress: Whether it’s crowded airports, long drives, or disrupted routines, holiday travel can take a toll on mental health. The absence of familiar comforts and therapeutic routines can intensify feelings of anxiety.
  4. Pressure to Be “Merry”: The cultural expectation to feel joyful can clash with personal struggles, leaving many people feeling isolated or inadequate when their emotions don’t match the festive atmosphere.

The Role of Telemedicine in Managing Holiday Anxiety

Mental healthcare through telemedicine provides a lifeline for those who want to prioritize mental health during the holidays. With online therapy sessions, you can receive professional support from the comfort of your own home—or wherever you are. Here’s how telemedicine can help:

  • Immediate Accessibility: Skip the holiday traffic and waiting rooms. Online therapy allows you to connect with your therapist quickly and conveniently.
  • Privacy and Comfort: You can attend sessions in a private space where you feel most at ease, whether it’s your living room or a quiet corner during holiday travel.
  • Flexibility for Busy Schedules: Telemedicine services often offer extended hours, making it easier to fit therapy into your packed holiday schedule.

Strategies to Stay Calm with Telemedicine

  1. Prioritize Your Sessions: Consistency is key, especially during times of heightened stress. Schedule your online therapy appointments in advance and treat them as non-negotiable self-care moments.
  2. Prepare for Social Challenges: Work with your therapist to role-play conversations, set boundaries, or learn breathing techniques to ease anxiety during gatherings.
  3. Reframe Body Image Concerns: Your therapist can help you identify triggers, challenge negative thought patterns, and develop healthier coping mechanisms related to body image.

Maintaining Mental Wellness During Holiday Travel

  • Travel doesn’t have to disrupt your therapy routine. With therapy or psychiatry through telemedicine, you can maintain your mental wellness no matter where you are:
  • Plan Ahead: Ensure you have a stable internet connection and a private space at your destination. A pair of noise-canceling headphones can make your sessions more comfortable.
  • Integrate Therapy Into Your Schedule: Coordinate therapy appointments around your holiday plans, such as booking a session during downtime between travel or festivities.
  • Carry Your Tools: Work with your therapist to develop quick relaxation techniques, such as grounding exercises or mindfulness practices, that you can use while on the go.

Schedule an Appointment for a Calmer, Happier Holiday Season

Holiday anxiety doesn’t have to overshadow your celebrations. By incorporating psychiatry into your routine, you can manage stress effectively, stay consistent with your treatment, and embrace the season with more confidence and peace.

Remember, seeking support is a gift you give yourself—a way to prioritize your mental health and ensure a calmer, happier holiday season.

Contact Colony Care today to schedule an appointment with a licensed clinician. We have offices in Wellesley, Yarmouth Port, Arlington, and Weymouth and offer telemedicine for patients throughout Massachusetts. To get started, request an appointment today through our secure online form.

Sources:

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/seven-ways-to-cope-with-holiday-stress
https://talkhealthrive.com/post/coping-with-holiday-anxiety-you-are-not-alone/

When Sunshine Brings Stress: How to Manage Summer Anxiety

Posted on by Colony Care Behavioral Health in

As the weather warms, you might notice a familiar feeling creeping in—that unease in your stomach, the discomfort about wearing lighter clothing, shopping for a swimsuit, or facing more social gatherings. If summer stirs up anxiety for you, you’re not alone. Let’s explore what can cause these feelings and how to manage them with care.

Causes of Summer Anxiety

While winter is commonly associated with seasonal sadness, the summer months can also affect mental health in unexpected ways. The pressure to feel carefree, be social, or meet certain body image standards can contribute to feelings of anxiety or sadness—even when everything around you seems bright and cheerful.

Social Anxiety and Seasonal Expectations

While some people look forward to summer parties, weddings, and barbecues, others feel a wave of dread. If you find yourself overthinking every interaction. “Will I say the right thing?” “Will people judge me?” “What if I don’t fit in?” You may be experiencing social anxiety.
Summer’s social calendar can feel especially intense when there’s pressure to be outgoing and carefree. You might feel anxious about seeing old friends, meeting new people, or simply being present in group settings. These feelings are valid and more common than you might think.

Body Image Concerns

Warmer weather often means lighter clothing, swimsuits, and more time outside. For those struggling with body image, this can feel deeply uncomfortable.

Concerns about weight, appearance, or aging may be amplified in summer—especially when surrounded by messages about how you’re “supposed” to look. While others seem carefree in shorts and sundresses, you may feel exposed or self-conscious, making even casual outings stressful.

These feelings can lead to avoiding social events altogether, which may contribute to isolation or even depression.

Coping With Summer Anxiety

While it may be tempting to hide away and wait for fall, there are supportive, gentle steps you can take to manage summer anxiety:

  • Know you’re not alone. Many people feel anxious or uncomfortable in social situations. Chances are, someone else at the event feels exactly like you do.
  • Connect with someone. Seek out a quiet or reserved guest and start a conversation. A simple moment of connection can ease anxiety and even lead to new friendships.
  • Limit social media use. Take a break from apps or accounts that make you feel inadequate. Instead, spend time with content that inspires or soothes—gardening, crafting, home projects, or anything you enjoy.
  • Practice calming techniques. Try box breathing: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4. Repeat a calming affirmation like, “I can handle this moment.”
  • Wear what makes you comfortable. If wearing a swimsuit feels daunting, find a cover-up you like. Focus on the experience—the sun on your skin, the sound of laughter, the splash of water—not on how you look.
  • Prioritize sleep. Create a sleep-friendly environment: cool room, soft lighting, device-free wind-down time. Aim for 7–9 hours of rest each night to help regulate mood and reduce stress.

When to Seek Help

If anxiety continues to interfere with your ability to enjoy or function during the summer months, professional support can make a meaningful difference. The good news? You don’t have to leave home to get help.

Colony Care Behavioral Health offers both in-person and online therapy sessions, providing private and convenient ways to receive care. Whether you’re new to therapy or returning after a break, support is just a click away.

Utilize our secure online form to schedule a virtual or in-person therapy or psychiatry appointment and start taking steps toward peace of mind this summer.

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