Tips to Survive Christmas while Dealing with Lupus
The Holidays can be fun but with lupus it can also be stressful. Anxiety can be high; worry can overtake you and depression can become unbearable.
It’s so important for lupus warriors to honor their body’s cues and make a concerted effort to not overdo it. Doing too much will have you in a crazed frenzy and cause difficult flares.
You can find some calm in the midst of holiday storms. Here are some tips that can help.
1. Acknowledge & Honor Your Limits-It can be hard to acknowledge your limits and honor them. This is one of the hardest things that lupus warriors struggle with. We are always working to get this under control.
The sooner you are able to acknowledge what is best for your health around the holidays, the better prepared you will be. You will then be able to make the necessary changes and adjustments that will allow you to enjoy the holiday fun rather than sit on the sidelines in pain.
2. Accept & Communicate Your Needs- Part of acknowledging and honoring your limits is acceptance. You have to accept that you have limits to be able to communicate your needs to your family and friends.
You don’t have to tell them every little thing. But, communicating your needs around the holidays is the best way to help alleviate stress and the burden that can come with the season. The more situations you can set your boundaries for clearly, the better off you’ll be.
You can communicate your needs by stating, “I know you’re disappointed that I can’t ……, but my health is my priority, and I need to make sure I am as well as possible.”
3. Make a Realistic Plan- There’s always a lot to do around the holidays. Creating a holiday plan can help you feel prepared for any holiday chaos. This can help reduce stress and help you set boundaries in a firm, concrete manner. This can also help you to honor your limits and not push your body to the brink creating a flare.
Plan your day for the holiday itself, and any surrounding days. The important thing is to plan in advance in order to be ready. You don’t want to wake up wondering and stressing about what you need to do.
4. Ask for Help- Sometimes in haste of dealing with lupus issues and the holidays we can forget to ask for help. Most times we are so busy trying to be strong we refuse to ask for help. Let’s not do that this year.
Make a list for what you need help with be it cooking, cleaning or just dealing with the holidays. Don’t be shy and be direct about what you need help with.
Don’t be embarrassed because you need help. You are human and you deserve to be able to ask for help and receive it.
5. Pace Yourself- So much is going on during the holiday season. It makes sense not to try to do it all at one time. Attempting to do everything and be everything for everyone will prove to be stressful. That stress will definitely lead to flares.
Take your time and pace yourself. Resolve in your mind that you will take it all one moment at a time. Small steps are still steps that make progress.
6. Set Time Limits & Say No- Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to the stress and guilt. Don’t abandon healthy habits totally, but make sure you don’t deny the little treats you may like.
Make sure you set time limits on your visits and for those who visit you. Make sure you make some time for yourself. Find an activity you enjoy and take a break by yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything.
Learn to say no. Saying yes when you need to say no can possibly leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t participate in every project or activity
Don’t let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent stress and depression that can often come on strong during the holidays.
Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands. Doing this will help you combat them before they lead to a meltdown and a serious flare.
You can prep for the holidays and determine what’s best for you. Don’t hide from it all this year and allow the stress and depression to get you to a point of a flare. Be proactive and decide you won’t let the holidays create an overwhelming stressful time in your life. #LupusInColor #TipsfortheHolidays
