The Flip Side Of Holiday Overwhelm

The holiday season is a time of activity: gift-giving, parties, seeing loved ones. All this activity can be fun, but it tends to become overwhelming for many people, especially as parties pile up, lists get longer, tug-o-wars between possible destinations ensue. It can truly feel like too much of a good thing.

The flip side of that is when people don't have enough to do, or rather don't feel they have enough people to celebrate with. For many, the holiday season can be a lonely time of year. When the focus is on togetherness, it's difficult for those who don't have close friends or family to celebrate with; when the focus is on gifts, it's painful to have too few people to exchange with. With all the pressure for celebration, those with fewer people to celebrate with can definitely feel set apart, and feel like there's a magnifying glass on this perceived lack in their life.

Even people with good friends and family in their lives may feel other kinds of socia pressures this time of year. For example, some singles get more pressure this time of year from well-meaning relatives who want to know when they are going to "settle down", or may feel a pull from inside if they find themselves wishing they had the perfect partner to celebrate special holiday times with.

Do you feel lonely at times during the holiday season? Do you feel pressure to have the perfect group of friends, perfect family, or perfect partner to celebrate the holidays with? Below are some resources to cope.

• How To Cope With Loneliness During The Holidays
• Study: Loneliness--You're Not Alone!
• Readers' Best Tips For Coping With Loneliness
• Single During The Holidays

What are your best tips for coping with holiday loneliness? Share in the comments below--I'd love to hear! Also, you can join the Facebook group About Stress Management for more on stress and healthy living. We'd love to see you there!