Is My Addiction Bad Enough? Addiction Solutions -

If you’re anything like me, you get a little nervous to go out and socialize. Parties are supposed to be fun, but if you suffer from even a tinge of social anxiety, things can get a little hairy leading up to the event.

You may start worrying about what to wear, convincing yourself that you’ll either be underdressed or overdressed. You may obsess about your weight, and whether people will judge you for having put on a few pounds. Perhaps you fear that you won’t know what to say in conversation, or put your foot in your mouth at some point.

Pre-party jitters are pretty normal. Everyone feels a little unsure of themselves when anticipating new social situations. If social anxiety is a very familiar experience for you, here are some tips and things to remember:

If you assume that on January 1st you’ll automatically have weight to lose on account of holiday eating, think again. There is a way that you can enjoy the holidays — including great food — without going overboard.

The most important thing to remember is that holidays are just days on the calendar. They aren’t synonymous with overeating. After all, you’ve never actually needed a special holiday as permission to let loose, have you? It’s just a trick of our minds to think that we now have excuse to overeat…and should use it. So why don’t you treat these food-focused days as simply another day, and stick to what you’d normally eat when trying to be healthy?

For example: If ham or turkey is being served, have the amount you’d normally put on your plate. If you typically wouldn’t order creamed onions or cheesy potatoes, why do so now? Afraid of feeling deprived? It’s not deprivation if you’re choosing self-care. Give yourself the gift of feeling good and you’re only adding something to your day, not taking something away.

Besides, consider that Thanksgiving is for amateurs… it’s for normal eaters to let loose. If you’re an emotional eater, haven’t you used up your coupons for letting loose, long ago? This isn’t your day. Leave it to those better qualified and deserving! Feeling satisfied, but not stuffed is a whole lot better. do I have an addiction

Holidays are typically stressful everyone. Even if you boycotted the holidays, you’d still have to contend with the traffic, crowds and endless tracks of holiday music playing everywhere!

While many of us enjoy and look forward to the holidays, it doesn’t make them much easier. Time with family, as loving as they might be, can trigger tough emotions and bring us back to our 10 year old selves—in a heartbeat.

The inordinate amount of food around us—cakes, cookies, fudge and all the rest of it (cheese balls and fondue anyone?) invade our consciousness and make it hard to stick to our normally healthy routine.

Add eggnog and other alcoholic beverages and you have the perfect storm!

The good news is that the holidays can be different this year. There are actually things you can do right now that will enable you to be more centered, less stressed and fully prepared to enjoy your family and friends—and have no need for impossible resolutions in the new year.

Resist the temptation to do too. You don’t have to go to every party you’re invited to. Honestly evaluate your schedule and determine what you can do, without causing too much stress. (If you don’t mind being stressed out or gaining weight you don’t have to say “no” to anything.) We have to choose between doing everything and paying the price, or setting limits on our time and energy and being more balanced and peaceful. If you really want to enjoy your family, be kind to your kids and stay on track with a healthy diet, just do less and let it be OK. Trust me…no one else really cares. So cut yourself some slack and choose a schedule that feels more self-caring.