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Holiday Stress Management Tips for Military Veterans

While the holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year and bring great joy, for some of our Veterans and caregivers, it is a time of increased stress and challenges. The season and all its expectations can feel overwhelming. During the holidays, Veterans may experience increased mental health concerns and loneliness or sadness. This time of the year may elicit holiday triggers and remind Vets of traumatic anniversary dates. Loud noises, fireworks, or crowded gatherings may exacerbate posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

In this month’s blog, we will discuss some of the challenges our Veterans and caregivers face during the holiday season and provide some practical tips to help reduce stress and stay healthy.

Causes of Holiday Stress for the Veteran

According to the Veteran Affairs, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Veteran holiday stress may revolve around three tension-inducing situations:

Challenges with Relationships: misunderstandings, conflicts, or the inability to share the holiday season with family or friends may cause feelings of isolation and increase stress for the Veteran.
Increased Spending and Finances: holiday pressure to spend more money on gifts, food, travel, and entertainment may increase stress for the Veteran.
Obligations during the Holiday Season: from shopping and attending social gatherings, to planning and preparing meals, physical demands and unrealistic expectations may increase stress for the Veteran.

Tips to Cope and Manage Holiday Stress as A Veteran

The Military Health System and the Veteran Affairs provide useful tips for Veterans to ease stress during the holidays:

Stay in touch with family and friends: focus on healthy relationships
Prioritize your health: self-care through eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep, taking time to exercise, and sharing your feelings with loved ones are important to maintain your health
Mentally prepare for situations you may encounter during the holidays, including social events, parties, crowds, and family gatherings.
Plan and schedule activities; if you know your schedule and what to expect, you may decrease the stress of the unexpected
Manage expectations: be realistic and say no when needed; set boundaries
Look for free activities to enjoy
Continue to serve; volunteer to help others in need
Make a budget and stick to it
Try not to be perfect, give yourself some grace
Take time to recharge and relax; self-care is important to your physical and mental well-being
Stay away from unhealthy coping (overeating, overindulging with alcohol or other substances) which can negatively impact positive coping and your ability to reduce stress
Reach out for help if you feel overwhelmed: having insight and understanding to ask for help is a sign of strength.

Veterans and the Holidays: By the Numbers

The Veterans Outreach Center notes that Veteran suicide rates increase during the holidays compared to their civilian counterparts:

Veterans, 55-74 years of age, have a higher rate of suicide than their civilian counterparts
Veterans 55 and over represent the largest number of suicides among the Veteran population
Veterans 18-34 have the highest suicide rates

Call a battle-buddy or wingman and check on them during this holiday season! The call may be more important than you realize!

At Visory Health, we see you and we hear you. You are not alone!

Visory Health wishes each Veteran and Veteran Family a safe and healthy holiday season. Continue to make healthy choices, care for yourself and loved-ones, take your medications as prescribed, and use the Visory Health Discount Prescription Card to save money on your prescription medications.

**If you need help this month or any time of the year, the Veterans Crisis Line is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

**Contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive confidential support. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.

**To reach responders, dial 988, then press 1,

or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

Stay Health, Stay Visory Health!

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To Your Health,

Dr. Creamer

DNP, MSN, MSS, MA

","disclaimer":"

This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational or educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diagnosis or treatment. If you think you have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.

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