Christmas
ELF movie caption from 2003.
Well, here we are. Christmas is upon us once again, and we are frantically trying to get another present for a family member, a coworker, our favorite pet, or just another gift for the special someone in our life.
Take it easy, no, seriously relax and breathe. In a previous post, the question was asked about whether or not holidays could impact PTSD, or other trauma (I may have asked it differently), and the resounding answer is “Yes! Holidays, and other special anniversary dates of events can most definitely trigger our trauma responses.”
So? Take it easy, breathe, rest, drink some water and don’t worry about that next gift, or the next work Christmas party. It is alright to breathe and stay in for the night with a warm fire in the fireplace, a cup of hot cocoa, or coffee and just watch Elf, or another holiday fave.
These days are chaotic enough without adding more to our proverbial plate of PTSD. We all need to learn how to say ‘no’ to things, so we can rest, and recognize why we celebrate Christmas, and this may help take pressure off, it may calm our senses, and we may feel a sense of relief rather than a sense of insanity through the season.
So let’s consider things to help us walk through this season, and into the new year, which can bring added stress to anyone’s life (am I right?).
If you feel claustrophobic at times when certain emotions well-up as a result or response to holiday stressors and past memories of trauma, how do you respond? Do you react in a negative manner or are you able to recognize triggers before you explode?
Breathing on purpose is huge - breathe in and hold for four-seconds, and then breathe out and hold for three to four seconds. Do this a couple of times. This can help establish a new pattern for you. Your brain can re-engage with a new rhythm and this may be enough to get you out of the stressors which come from the season, or the past trauma being relived. Either way it is a good technique to try.
Getting good rest. Notice I did not say getting sleep? Have you ever gone to bed and slept, yet when you woke up in the morning you felt like you were hit by the big, ‘YOU DIDN’T SLEEP AT ALL LAST NIGHT’ truck? I sure have. I have gone to sleep, and been up multiple times throughout the night - my mind racing, my chest hurting due to stress, those intrusive thoughts entering in once again. You know what I mean. Well - get some good rest. How? Don’t have another cup of coffee after dinner, stay away from the alcohol, drink a glass of water. Yup water.
As you engage with healthy habits, the rest can be sweet. Don’t get me wrong - sometimes we just have a bad night for sleeping and resting, it will happen, but we can learn how to make those nights fewer and not the norm.
Limit screen time. If you like watching a movie, being on social-media, playing video games, or other “screen time” activities, that is great, and generally not an issue, however if you do these things in bed before you shut the light off, or for a couple of hours before you turn in for the night, the brain is overly stimulated with those computer-generated images which have an impact on getting sleep since the brain is still highly engaged. This will impact your rest. Many experts say you should limit your screen time outside of work to about 2 hours. Let me offer a compromise, limit it to one hour, and then use the other hour for physical exercise, take a walk, go for a hike, take a jog. Exercise actually helps you to get better rest.
There are so many things that may improve the quality of the rest you get, even if you are struggling with PTSD.
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8, NKJV).
We can rest securely in the times of our need, our traumatic experiences snice it is the Lord who makes us dwell in safety. How are you doing with that today?
Enjoy Christmas, try some of the techniques listed above, and in previous blogs - look at other sources to find rest, and trust in the timing and the love of the Lord as you learn to take good rest in Him.
Be blessed, Merry Christmas!