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Julie Cohen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist MFT and a Child Mental Health Specialist with a private practice in Los Angeles Her areas of focus include depression anxiety panic post-traumatic stress bipolar…
FAST FACTS
OK, the holidays are finally over and I have one question; what did you give to yourself? The holidays for me are always a mix of looking forward to family gatherings and being exhausted by them both physically and emotionally. While I enjoy the cooking, the visiting, the giving of presents and the closeness that ensues, I can often feel drained by the end of it. After it was all said and done, I found myself by New Year's Eve completely exhausted.
I think this is especially true if you are the head of your household or responsible for the cooking, cleaning and paying for everything. As children we are often raised with the expectation that things will be done for us and given to us. However, as adults that expectation changes to if I give and do, others will do for me. There is a sense of equity and when that equity goes unmet feelings of disappointment and exhaustion are not unusual.
So if you were the "giver" this year and were left feeling drained what can you do to bring balance back into your life? Well traditionally, that is what the after Christmas sales were about. That is the day that many folks march into the mall and say, "today is about me!" Now I am not one to deny the healing properties of shopping therapy but would encourage some other grounding and rejuvenating activities as well.
Some other ideas include: a walk on the beach or a hike, a day without the kids (or a few hours), read a book, go to a movie, a bubble bath with candles, go to a museum etc... Basically, anything that brings you a sense of well-being and feels like you have given something to yourself. Get creative! I would love to hear what you gave yourself this holiday season.
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Displaying comments 2-1 of 42
2
I gave myself and my wife a trip. We were "childless" for five days.... it was amazing.
By colored_cheerios Jan 05, 2009
1
I didn't give myself anything... I resisted the tremendous urge to off myself so I guess that could have been something I gave to myself... Yule is now my least favorite holiday of the year.. i'm even considering hating it.
By hlks Jan 05, 2009
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