Parties, Christmas Day and Anxiety - Social anxiety, what people call shyness . . .
Parties, Christmas Day and Anxiety
Social anxiety, what people call shyness is something many people have faced in certain situations. Think about your first day in preschool or kindergarten. Did you run off and forget your mom/dad/grandma or were you clinging to their leg; begging them not to leave you? Remember your first date and you were sweating so much no antiperspirant existed strong enough to hold back the moisture and odor. Yikes!
Here are a few CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy - As a person thinks, so are they) pointers to help you deal with whatever it is that is making you lose sleep this holiday season.
Define the problem - Is it coming out of your self-talk? Or do you have feelings that you can’t name; let alone figure out where they came from in the first place?
Change your thinking - If you live out of your head, it won’t be difficult to nail down one or two things that you are saying to yourself that simply aren’t true. “I can’t do this; it’s too scary. I will throw up or have a panic attack.” or a common one is “I am not good enough. Some thoughts may be something that you heard when you were growing up; or someone in your present is hammering you with something that may have a shade of truth to it, i.e. you are a narcissist (even if they do have a background in mental health, few people are qualified to diagnose this).
You can put yourself in a place that stretches you just a little bit before you go into a full-blown panic evoking place - like your family on Christmas Day. See SNL clip The Best Christmas Ever - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WvwX18oMR4, Or just reflect on your experience like this couple does.
Feelings come and go. Remember “This too shall pass.” That was in a card from my friend Suzette for my first Christmas after my ex moved out. This reminder was given and received with love and I found it comforting.
Remember that the Lord - via the Holy Spirit is with you; He will both guide you and comfort you if you let him into your soul, mind, and heart. He will strengthen you as well. Sometimes you won’t have the right words to say even if you said a short prayer beforehand. Smiling may be your last resort. It’s free!
Be brave and be strong (read Joshua 1). God is for you not against you and everything can be used for your healing and restoration. Relax and surrender. Say “I trust you Lord” even if you don’t feel it. See what surprising and good things He does!
MERRY CHRISTMAS! See my Facebook post.
