The holiday season is often filled with a sense of joy, wonderment and excitement, with many looking forward to spending time with family and friends, and the start of a new year. For some, however, this can also be a time of stress, especially during the days quickly leading up to the holidays. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing may find this time particularly stressful if they have family, friends or colleagues who may not fully understand how to support those with hearing difficulties or have the ability to appropriately communicate with them at gatherings. Finding ways to relieve this holiday stress and prepare for potential stressors are important, and by doing so, it might just allow more opportunities to enjoy this “most magical time of the year.”
Tips for coping with and relieving stress
- Maintain healthy habits. As recommended in the American Heart Association’s blog, continue to eat well and get enough sleep to help you feel your best, giving you the energy to adequately prepare for the holidays.
- Take time for yourself. This is especially important in the days leading up to the holidays as stress may build with last-minute preparations and gathering commitments with friends, family or colleagues. Find an activity that is relaxing, enjoyable and helps you to recharge, and ensure that you participate in this activity, even for a short period of time, or possibly prior to or following moments of stress throughout this season. Some possible common options for activities include going for a walk, reading a book, spending time with close family or friends, or simply taking time with a pet.
- Try to prepare as much as possible. For those hosting gatherings who have family or friends who are deaf or hard of hearing, it can be helpful to determine beforehand ways to ensure everyone will be included in conversations and areas are well-lit to accommodate those who may use sign language, according to the American Society for Deaf Children. Knowing that a host will provide an inclusive environment at holiday gatherings will likely help relieve stress for deaf and hard of hearing guests as well.
- Self-advocate for communication needs. Before attending a gathering, it may be helpful to share with a host about ways to ensure there is an inclusive and supportive environment for communication for those with a hearing loss. The Hearing Loss Association of America blog shares some suggestions and tips for deaf or hard of hearing guests that are helpful to share with a host, such as lowering background music and arranging a table for circular seating.
- Avoid isolation. Although spending time with others and attending gatherings may create stress, try to not isolate as well. It may reduce some stress in the short term, but it may also, in turn, contribute to loneliness and sadness. Continue to spend time with close family members and friends who are supportive and bring enjoyment to your life. It may also help to relieve stress to talk with these close individuals about how you are feeling during the holiday season.
Following some of these tips will hopefully help those experiencing some stress during this busy holiday season. Prioritizing some time for yourself and, for those with hearing difficulties, identifying and communicating ways to ensure gatherings are supportive and inclusive likely will bring some stress relief, making space to enjoy this season and time with family and friends.
