Self Care During the Holidays
The holiday season is often portrayed as the “most wonderful time of the year” where everyone can celebrate holidays and participate in traditions with their loved ones. However, what the sparkling television commercials with holiday tunes fail to reveal are the added stressors of the season including more work, finding presents, and attending parties and gatherings. For any individual, the holiday season can be stressful, but for survivors, it can be even more. Here at PAVE we understand how hard this time can be for survivors, and we are here to give a few suggestions on how you can take some self-care measures to make this holiday season a little more relaxing and comfortable.
First, it is important to remember that although this season is about giving to others, it is also important to give to yourself. Many times survivors blame themselves for their trauma, but know this is not your fault. To help ease thoughts of negativity towards yourself, start to recognize that you are an amazing human being who deserves self love and relaxation, too. No matter what is coming your way; whether it is a big family party or extra work hours to provide yourself money, make sure you know when to just rest. By taking the initial step of taking a step back from duties and focusing on yourself, you are allowing your mind to rest and recharge.
After acknowledging you deserve self-care, the next step is to plan something you can do. This can include a relaxing bath, exercising, or partaking in a different activity you may enjoy. Self-care activities may not look the exact same for everyone, but as long as you are doing something to alleviate stress and are partaking in an activity that helps you keep calm and healthy, it will help. Make sure that despite the busy schedules the holiday brings, that you still schedule in some time for yourself. Taking a few hours out of your day at least once a week is so important.
Finally, know you are never alone, and find a trusted individual. A big part of self-care is being able to handle your emotions. While for many survivors it can be difficult to share about your story, it is still important to have someone to trust to open up to about anything you may be having a difficult time with. Keeping emotions bottled in can be challenging, and whether your abuser is someone you may see during the holidays or their name may be brought up by family, it can be hard to keep in emotions. Having someone in person or a phone call away is very helpful as you can keep this contact close to you and know it is someone you can trust with your feelings. Even if you feel alone if your trusted companion is not in your family, tell your friend about the situation you are going into so that if you need anything, they can talk to you through phone or text.
We hope you all enjoy your holiday season, however you choose to celebrate! Just remember that even though it is meant to be joyful, you can also take a rest. If you find yourself under stress and in need of any resources, please make sure to check out shatteringthesilence.org and survivors.org.
Written By: Kelli Green, PAVE’s Fall 2021 Outreach Intern
