OpEd: Minimizing Trauma During the Holidays

The holiday season is considered “the most wonderful time of the year,” with festive celebrations, social gatherings, and time spent with loved ones.

It can also be a stressful or even triggering time of year for those who have experienced trauma and grief.

We don’t always know who among us is healing from a traumatic episode or incident. So it is important that we remain sensitive, respectful, and caring with one another—especially during the holiday season—by honoring trauma-informed practices of self-attunement and self-care.

Self-attunement is the practice of becoming aware of what is needed to protect and preserve your well-being—particularly during periods of stress. You can practice self-attunement by taking a moment to really check-in with yourself. You may want to ask yourself “What is one important area of my life that could use some more of your attention right now? What might I want to introduce into or remove from my routine this week to best take care of myself?”

Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve your well-being. You can practice self-care by making choices that help you to meet your needs (as determined by the self-attunement process). You may want to ask yourself: What can I do to recharge and take care of myself? What’s a choice I can make this week based on my needs?”

Examples of self-care include:

Physical: getting enough sleep, listening to hunger cues, engaging in healthy exercise

Emotional: making time to feel your feelings, journaling, reaching out for support

Social: setting boundaries, saying “no,” connecting with people who make you feel safe and supported

Spiritual: meditating, spending time in nature, practicing yoga

Cultural: making family recipes, attending religious services, connecting with community

Financial: setting aside money for savings, spending responsibly, buying yourself something special

Professional: taking breaks throughout the day, asking for help, learning something new

This holiday season, remember that we all need to allow ourselves the space to look inward and do the things we need to do that make us healthier and happier, so we can then care for those around us as well.