Dealing with stress during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years can be very difficult for individuals living with the impact of brain injuries.
In this article, I share what has helped me deal with stress as I interact with family and friends during the holiday season.
In the event that you find yourself experiencing stress during the holidays may what I share in this article series help you to have more serenity.
Serenity as you interact with family and friends during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
To make reading/watching and listening to the article more manageable, I have divided the article into 4 parts. I will included links to the additional 4 Parts, as well as links to the 2 Parts of the video presentation series of the article below. I would encourage you to read and / or listen to / watch each of the 4 parts of the article to gain the full benefit of the article series. As questions arise, send those question to me.
Traumatic Brain Injury — Stress, Anxiety and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Part 1
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. A few days ago I received a request to write an article addressing stress related to the holiday season. In the following article I will address several of the factors that I believe impact the lives of brain injury survivors during the holiday season.
In 2 weeks Thanksgiving will be upon us, then 3 weeks later Christmas and a week later New Years Eve and New Years Day. For many families these 5-6 weeks — with the anticipation and preparation for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years — can be laden with anxiety and stress.
For many traumatic brain injury survivors the filters with in their brains, that monitor impulsive behavior and mood changes, are damaged at the time of their brain injuries. With increased stress and sensory overload, during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, the brain injury survivor filters are taxed. Consequently, the brain injury survivor is more susceptible to impulsive behavior and unexplained mood swings.
Consequently, the brain injury survivor may feel shunned and shamed around family and friends. Shunned and shamed because of the invisible nature of their disability. The brain injury survivor may subsequently experience feelings of isolation and alienation.
My suggestion here would be to love and accept yourself and be your own advocate. Rather than feeling shame and shunned, because of your deficits and limitations, be honest. Share your struggles with family members and friends.
Below are links to the other 3 Parts of the written article:
Traumatic Brain Injury — Stress, Anxiety and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Part 2
Traumatic Brain Injury — Stress, Anxiety and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Part 3
Traumatic Brain Injury — Stress, Anxiety and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Part 4
Below is a video presentation of the article. I have combined parts 1 and 2 in one presentation and parts 3 and 4 in the 2nd presentation. Click on the links and the video presentation (s) will open on You Tube.
As you listen to, watch or read my articles and questions come to mind, please send those questions to mind. All questions are good questions. In the event that you would like to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.To do so, please use the below contact form. I will respond to your comments and questions.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Craig
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 -2023.
Craig,
You are amazing! Living with a daughter with all of the struggles you outlined here, I know a little (just a little – from a caregiver perspective) about what you face daily. So, I also know it had to take a huge amount of your reserves to put this together for the benefit of others. This is so helpful, thank you! I am grateful and know so many others are as well. Wishing you great blessings this year!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so very much for letting me know that the article series helped you and your daughter. Living with a brain injury and an invisible disability places everyone involved in a conundrum. A conundrum of people with and those without attempting to connect the dots. Many times people without brain injuries are not able to accept our realities because to do so would mean that they would have to feel feelings that they do not know how to process (OR) are too painful for them to process. Staying in denial may then continue to be like a warm blanket for them that they do not to get out from under. Also, for people to accept our realities would mean that they would have to make changes that they do not know how to make (OR) are unwilling to make to have a relationship with us (people living with brain injuries). Here is an article link that you may find helpful, Whose Shame are you Carrying? https://secondchancetolive.org/2007/05/25/whose-shame-are-you-carrying/
In response, the individual living with a brain injury may in turn (which I did for many years) the denial inward and in the process live in anger toward themselves. In my experience, I had to reach a point in my life when I could no longer defend or deny my reality. In the process of confronting my denial, I had to move through the grieving process to be able to accept my reality. By grieving my reality I was able to begin to look for ways that would work for me. In October 2013 I gave a keynote presentation at the southwest conference on disability. To offer a detailed window into my journey of living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability, I wrote an article. Here is a link to that article, Lisa. Back Ground Information for Keynote Presentation Craig Phillips Founder and Creator Second Chance to Live Southwest Conference on Disability 2013 https://secondchancetolive.org/2013/10/05/back-ground-information-keynote-presentation-craig-phillips-founder-creator-second-chance-to-live-southwest-conference-disability-2013/
I would invite you to read the article. Here is a link to the resources I have created and offer (without a fee or expense) on Second Chance to Live. These resources may be helpful to you, your daughter and your entire family both now and in the future. Please feel free to share these resources. Thank you, Lisa. Resources Available on Second Chance to Live https://secondchancetolive.org/resources-available-second-chance-live/
As you read through my articles and resources and questions come to mind, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions and welcomed.
I will say so long for now.
Have a great day. Please say hello to your daughter for me. Thank you.
God bless both you and your entire family, Lisa.
Craig