Dealing with Anxiety and the holidays

I work a full time job where I get a week off at Thanksgiving and two weeks for Christmas. This causes me so much anxiety! I have to have routines to keep me from freaking out and having anxiety attacks with too much time on my hands and I don't know what to do with myself.

How do you manage your anxiety during the holidays? Or when your regular routine is interrupted? All I want to do is take sleeping pills and stay in bed. Hoping that these days will pass quickly so I don't have to suffer the mental, emotional, and physical effects of the anxiety.

I am not talking about 'normal' anxiety that everyone gets during this time of year. I am diagnosed with an anxiety disorder that can be crippling if I don't keep it managed.

It's hard, but I often try to plan ahead. When I know I will have time off with no pre-planned schedule (like work or school), I try to make an hourly schedule of the week and keep it. I use googledocs and my physical calendar to plan out every day and every hour. I use a little notepad that I carry with me to help me stay on track, especially when I know I'll be stressed by certain things (holiday family get together,s are inevitable for some and can be extremely triggering)

Some days I end up sleeping because the schedule itself has exhausted me, while other days I use the schedule to keep me going. I focus on getting from one appointment to the other until normalcy returns.

When things unexpected happen and I'm interrupted- like when my car breaks down or when something else disruptive happens, I try to take it hour by hour. Some days, I have to mentally check in with myself and ask "Is there something I can be doing right now to help me?" and then force myself to do it. Some days I have to tell someone else that I am not doing well and depend on them to help me stay well.

It's a struggle and takes adjustment, but I suggest those things: planning ahead, support system, and doing hourly mental check-ins, if necessary. Some days are rough, but it has gotten easier to manage the more I've done it.

I hope this helps....

I do meditation and yoga exercises during times of crisis. At other times, I either write out my worries, angers, everythings or play my guitar to get everything out.
Stream of consciousness is a powerful tool to write with and I highly recommend it if you're overwhelmed with thoughts.

What is "Stream of Consciousness"?

sadly, with me, i've no one to listen to me, and no one to help me. i've no choice but to go through it myself

Hello Squiggle, I know how crippling anxiety is. It take's over my life most of the time. I exercise every day and I think that releases some of the build up. Sorry I don't have any words of wisdom. Check out the link in catsandcoffe post. It might help. Best Wishes at this difficult time of year.

Stream of consciousness is a writing technique that was used by Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and even James Joyce. It's used to show thoughts/feelings/whatever that goes through your head. It's also called "interior monologue."
Here's an example from Ulysses. I snagged it from Wikipedia.
a quarter after what an unearthly hour I suppose theyre just getting up in China now combing out their pigtails for the day well soon have the nuns ringing the angelus theyve nobody coming in to spoil their sleep except an odd priest or two for his night office or the alarmlock next door at cockshout clattering the brain out of itself let me see if I can doze off 1 2 3 4 5 what kind of flowers are those they invented like the stars the wallpaper in Lombard street was much nicer the apron he gave me was like that something only I only wore it twice better lower this lamp and try again so that I can get up early."

I recommend it when you're writing out your everythings (anxiety, anger, happiness, etc.) because it takes out this wall of consciously thinking about what you're writing, especially when grammar is involved. It's hard to use at first but once you get the hang of it, it's lovely.