The holidays have arrived, and we are officially in the danger zone. To avoid festive fatigue and "Jingle Bell shock," here is a guide to managing the seasonal stress that affects us all while keeping your dignity intact (if possible).

Why is the holiday season stressful?

For many, the only thing on our Christmas list is a nap. The exhaustion usually stems from unrealistic expectations regarding family, finances, and time. From Halloween to New Year’s, there are no silent nights—just 62 days of high-pressure hype.

The holiday hype is loaded with high hopes and feeds heavy anticipation. For example, we have high expectations that family gatherings have to go smoothly and everyone has to get along, that holiday decorations have to look perfect or that we have to buy the perfect gift for everyone.

And speaking of gifts, in these shaky economic times, the pressure to spend a lot of money on gifts, especially if we don't have the money, can be also a stressor. A client in my practice recently joked that the North Pole’s PR department lied to her all these years. “Giving” is not what it’s all cracked up to be.

We also feel compelled to “fake the funk.” If we don’t, we feel guilty that we aren't perpetually merry, especially when social media makes everyone else look blissfully happy. And that makes us ask: "What's wrong with me? Why am I not happy, too?"

In addition, we suffer holiday stress because we overextend or overcommit ourselves and put too much pressure to take........

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