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Happy Holidays
In full force
The holiday season is now in full force. The holidays mean getting together with friends and family but they often bring unwelcome guests, stress and depression. And it’s no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands, parties, shopping and entertaining, to name a few. So what’s the best way to avoid the strains that accompany the holidays? For one, acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. Eat and drink in moderation. Don’t drink alcohol if you are feeling down. And before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend and stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.
Stressful and confusing
For many children, the holidays are happy, fun and exciting times. But, for some children, the holidays can also be stressful and confusing. Family plans and celebrations may be complicated by divorce, separation or remarriage. The holidays can also be a difficult time for children who have lost a parent, sibling, or close relative. This year, many children are also separated from parents due to ongoing military service. To help children cope with stress, discuss holiday plans well in advance, and include your children in the planning process. Kids need a degree of control and predictability. Constantly changing plans or last-minute decisions can all increase stress. Make sure your children get plenty of rest. While it may be exciting to stay up late, lack of sleep often leads to increased irritability. And don’t try to compensate for an absent family member with lots of gifts. What most kids really want is your time and attention.
Balancing Alzheimer’s
The holidays are bittersweet for many Alzheimer’s disease caregivers. The happy memories of the past contrast with the difficulties of the present, and extra demands on time and energy can seem overwhelming. Finding a balance between rest and activity can help. It’s important to keep family traditions that are important to you, and include the person with Alzheimer’s as much as possible. Recognize that things will be different, and be realistic about what you can do. Encourage friends and family to visit, but try to schedule visits during the time of day when the person is at his or her best. Try to avoid crowds, changes in routine, and strange places that may cause confusion or agitation. At larger gatherings such as weddings or family reunions, try to have a space available where the person can rest or spend time with a smaller number of people. And do your best to enjoy yourself, including finding time for the things you like to do.
Taking precautions
If you plan on purchasing a live Christmas tree this year, there are precautions you should take. The needles on a fresh tree should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If a lot of needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard. Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Don’t put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks and keep the tree stand filled with water at all times. Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly, either by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a pick-up service.
Don’t overload outlets
Are you like many Americans who dragged numerous boxes of decorations out of the basement and begun the annual holiday decoration display? If you use electric lights for holiday decorations, make sure to inspect your lights for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory. And don’t overload your electrical outlets. Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires, they should not be warm to the touch. All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents. Avoid using lit candles to decorate but if you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders where they can’t be knocked down.These programs were first broadcast the week of December 14, 2015.
T. Glenn Pait, M.D., of UAMS is the host of the program.