The days get shorter, the nights longer. Winter winds start blowing, and twinkle lights can’t keep you warm.
The holidays—for some of us of who have deconstructed and/or left our religious communities, they can be the most dreaded time of year.
The holidays can be stressful, anxiety inducing, reminding us of painful times, of family we are estranged from. They might feel like a big pile of unmet expectations as you’re surrounded by Christmas movies and music that tell stories of family togetherness and wintry happily-ever-afters. They can be a real downer. Not to mention the incoming dreary weather and cloudy gray skies that many of us experience this season.
Each year since I left my fundamentalist background, going through estrangement with a family member, I’ve become better adapted to holidays. I won’t lie and say I don’t experience some level of stress around this time, but it has been a lot easier as I’ve found ways to adapt and make the season my own. So in the spirit of giving (cue eye roll), here are some tools I’ve found helpful to reduce the stress.
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