Americans Are 5 Times More Likely to Say Our Level of Stress Increases During the Holidays

Available for Interviews: John Rodriguez, MD

Dr. John Rodriguez is a Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare2U, and he is passionate about the care that is provided to their patients. He manages all the care providers in Healthcare2U’s network of clinics and oversees care protocols and training.

What Dr. Rodriguez can say in an interview about
5 Coping Mechanisms to Alleviate Holiday Stress:

A study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association in 2021 found that Americans are severely more stressed around the holidays.¹ Why does it seem like everyone is stressed, anxious, or depressed around this time, the supposedly happiest time of the year?

Let’s dive into the reasons why people say they’re feeling this way during the holidays, some quick tips for coping, and how your Primary Care Physician can actually help diagnose and treat these mental health issues.

Here are a few of the reasons why Americans say they were stressed out during the 2021 holiday season:

    • Stress about finances (gift giving, traveling, etc.)
    • Not being around loved ones
    • Negative social and family dynamics

So, how do we combat this? Here are a few coping mechanisms to try during the holiday season to reduce stress:

    1. Set realistic expectations and goals
    2. Make time for yourself
    3. Keep track of holiday spending. Overspending could lead to more stress and, in turn, depression.
    4. Limit your drinking. Drinking alcohol in excess can exacerbate your anxiety or depression.
    5. To combat any loneliness you might experience, try volunteering²

Having trouble coping on your own? The good news is your Primary Care Physician can actually diagnose and possibly prescribe you medication for anxiety and depression if you feel like your issue is more than just the typical ‘holiday stress.’ Depending on the severity, they might refer you to a therapist, as sometimes it is beneficial to combine medication with therapy in certain cases, but you don’t need to go to a specialist to get this done.

 

Interview: John Rodriguez, MD

Dr. John Rodriguez is a Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare2U, and he is passionate about the care that is provided to their patients. He manages all the care providers in Healthcare2U’s network of clinics and oversees care protocols and training.

Dr. Rogriguez co-founded Healthcare2U to ensure that organizations of all sizes and structures have unlimited, nationwide access to affordable and consistent primary and urgent care. He has over 20 years of experience, where he worked in private practice as an attending physician with one of the most prestigious healthcare systems in the country, Baylor Health Care Systems. Dr. Rodriguez and his company have been featured on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends and in publications like BenefitsPro, America’s Benefit Specialist, and Broker World.

Contact:
Jo Allison
Managing Editor
Director of Public Relations
MEDIA AMBASSADORS
Success In Media, Inc.
Jo@SuccessInMedia.com

 

 

Sources:

1Psychiatry.org – Nationwide Holiday Mental Health Poll Reveals Americans are Worried about Contracting COVID, Missing

2Holiday Depression and Stress (webmd.com)

Leave a Reply