Newsletter Winter
2019/2020
‘Tis The Season
No Matter What Holiday You Celebrate, We’d Like To Wish You A Safe And Happy Holiday Season And A Peaceful And Prosperous New Year!!!
Having Sleeping Problems? Know Someone who
Struggles with this Condition? $6.95 May Help!!!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that insufficient sleep is a public health concern in the United States. Sleep-related problems effect 50 to 70 million Americans annually. If you are getting less than six hours of sleep a night, you are considered sleep-deprived. Lack of sleep limits an individual's ability to maintain a productive lifestyle. Sleep impairment can invade many aspects of an individual, which includes one’s personal, professional and social life.
 
I am a victim of sleeping problems. It can take me hours to fall asleep. This time is wasted on ruminating about silly things, that I often have no control over. When this happens, I feel anxious and falling asleep becomes more difficult.

Recently a friend gave me a small book entitled, SLEEP: 50 Mindfulness and Relaxation Exercises for a Restful Night's Sleep written by Dr. Arleene K. Unger. This beautifully illustrated book has many visual aids and it was written so all can understand it. It is available on Barnes and Noble's website for $6.95 . It makes a great gift and can be very helpful to all those insomniacs out there. 

Mary Guardino
Founder and Executive Director of Freedom From Fear

Holiday Stress 

The holidays are meant to be the most joyous time of the year. Many face stress for all sorts of reasons around the holidays whether it be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Year, or Kwanzaa. If you are one of these people, then continue reading for some helpful tips to better experience the positive sides of the holidays and to better create memories you can reflect on with warmth.

  • Accept your feelings
  • Do not try to cover up negative feelings the holidays may arouse in you. You must accept these feelings and allow them to run their course. You cannot force yourself to be happy. However, do not actively prevent yourself from being so! 

  • Get some sunlight
  • With the switch in weather, most individuals spend all of their time indoors to fight the cold. However, the sun helps stimulate the production of serotonin that helps to elevate your mood. Try to get outdoors more, sit by a window or simply turn on the lights.

  • Dealing with Loneliness

  • For many the holidays can be lonely. While everyone else is socializing with friends and family, you may find yourself with no one to spend time with. If this sounds like you, then go out and socialize. Do volunteer work, join a book club or a church group. Put yourself out there. Read local papers to find free activities available in your community.

  • Limit your spending
  • Do not try to buy your own or others’ happiness through your wallet. Gifts are only material and although they are a nice gesture, it is not worth the stress of wondering if you’ll have enough to pay upcoming bills. Make a gift instead, a candle, a sweet treat, maybe a scrapbook filled with positive memories. If you do decide to spend money, spend it in creative ways and remember to set a budget.

  • Plan Ahead
  • To prevent yourself from being overwhelmed, start planning ahead. If you know you have to cook a dish, set out all the ingredients to make your life easier in the future. If you know you have to buy ingredients, then make a list of all the ingredients you need. This way when you’re all set to get started, everything will be exactly where it is meant to be. 

  •   Be Optimistic
  • Between non-stop social obligations, shopping, cooking, cleaning, along with every-day responsibilities, it is no wonder many individuals feel like they may explode during the holiday season. Negative thinking leads to the same bodily response as a real threat without any danger actually being present. Therefore, stay optimistic. The holidays are about enjoying time with loved ones and a positive outlook will help you better appreciate these times. 

  • If you find yourself constantly sad, overly irritable, or unable to sleep, then talk to a mental health practitioner. There is nothing wrong with receiving support in your battle against these negative feelings and trained professionals exist to give you just that.       
          

Justin Siejk
Wagner College

308 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305 . Phone: 718.351.1717 . Fax: 718.980.5022
www.freedomfromfear.org.  [email protected] .
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