Clip from Ladue News Article - Interviewing St. Louis Counselors
Holiday Stress Soothers
Breathe Easy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
It’s December 24th and you’re up to your eyeballs in alligators, figuratively speaking. Your alligators may be a sit-down dinner for 25, contentious relatives, or just drop-dead fatigue. While planning ahead to avoid this situation is better, there are some things you can do even in the eleventh hour to change how you are feeling.
Dr. Rachel Glik, director of the Healing and Counseling Center, says the main source of stress is feeling out-of-control, so first we have to find ways to regain control, then develop the ability to let go. “Find out what you can control, identify what you can’t, and let go of those--which paradoxically puts you back into control.” She says the stress we feel is a combination of physical stress, and the under-the-surface stressors, like the emotional components of the holidays, relationship dynamics and self-esteem issues. To gain control, she says, we have to understand how those types of stress impact the situation.
Before the event, Glik says, decide what you want to happen and write it down, so you are more aware of your desire: Feel closer to your family, laugh more, be loved and appreciated. Then picture the situation as you want it to be. That can be empowering and make you feel more in control of your reality. Then take action to make your list happen.
If your crazy dinner is not going well, stop and do some deep breathing to control the adrenalin rush and that fight-or-flight response. Glik says long, slow belly breaths move more oxygen and tell the body that everything is OK. Go back to your vision of what really matters about this event. Let go of feelings, let go of duties and be flexible. Relax. Most of all, she says, focus on gratitude: It helps open your heart. LN
Breathe Easy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
It’s December 24th and you’re up to your eyeballs in alligators, figuratively speaking. Your alligators may be a sit-down dinner for 25, contentious relatives, or just drop-dead fatigue. While planning ahead to avoid this situation is better, there are some things you can do even in the eleventh hour to change how you are feeling.
Dr. Rachel Glik, director of the Healing and Counseling Center, says the main source of stress is feeling out-of-control, so first we have to find ways to regain control, then develop the ability to let go. “Find out what you can control, identify what you can’t, and let go of those--which paradoxically puts you back into control.” She says the stress we feel is a combination of physical stress, and the under-the-surface stressors, like the emotional components of the holidays, relationship dynamics and self-esteem issues. To gain control, she says, we have to understand how those types of stress impact the situation.
Before the event, Glik says, decide what you want to happen and write it down, so you are more aware of your desire: Feel closer to your family, laugh more, be loved and appreciated. Then picture the situation as you want it to be. That can be empowering and make you feel more in control of your reality. Then take action to make your list happen.
If your crazy dinner is not going well, stop and do some deep breathing to control the adrenalin rush and that fight-or-flight response. Glik says long, slow belly breaths move more oxygen and tell the body that everything is OK. Go back to your vision of what really matters about this event. Let go of feelings, let go of duties and be flexible. Relax. Most of all, she says, focus on gratitude: It helps open your heart. LN
