Holidays can be rough for a lot of folks but for vets and responders they can be a special kind of painful. DO NOT let that get into your heads. As much as we think we don't want to be around people, it can be good for us and the people we love. So let me give you a few suggestions for enjoying the holidays.
If you and your immediate family will be with others, take your own vehicle so you can leave early if you need to. I do because I'm ALWAYS ready to leave before the rest of my family. Just knowing I can get away makes me feel more at ease.
If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a few minutes to yourself in another room or outside on the porch and just B*R*E*A*T*H*E. Then go enjoy more of the day.
If your anxiety or stress starts to ramp up, there's a quick and unobtrusive way to lower it and ground yourself.
1. Find or think of five things you can see
2: Find or think of four things you can touch
3. Find or think of three things you can hear
4. Find or think of two things you can smell
5. Find or think of one thing you can taste
Finally, there's NOTHING WRONG with spending a quiet day at home.
As always, someone will be around if you need to talk or just vent. Just message our inbox on our Facebook page or our website.
Happy Thanksgiving, brothers and sisters.
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