Resource Articles

By Chad A. Buck, Ph.D.

The words “holiday” and “stress” do not belong together. A holiday is supposed to be a time when a person relaxes, participates in fun activities, gets some distance from day-to-day hassles, and spends time with family or loved ones. The reality is that even positive events can cause stress, and demands or changes in routine are often unavoidable. Even though the holidays tend to be more stressful than restful, there are ways to manage stress and make room for more enjoyment. 10 healthy ways to manage the negative stress you might experience this holiday season:

Dealing with loss, due to whatever circumstance, is difficult. It can be particularly difficult, however, to know how to interact with others who are experiencing a loss. Responses to this type of situation can range from avoidance to becoming overly-involved. The best response is somewhere in the middle.

The American Psychological Association in their Road to Resilience Initiative defines resilience as the process of good coping and adaptation in the face of a challenge, trauma or significant sources of stress.   

Building Resilience: Turning Challenges Into Success Resilience Skill Development: It would be great if everyone was born with a full repertoire of traits and skills for resilience. Since we are not, it is reassuring to know that with practice and training we can learn the behaviors, attitudes and skills necessary to increase our ability to spring back from challenges. There are four skill sets that are particularity helpful:

Building Resilience: Turning Challenges Into Success Attitude Our attitude drives our behavior. This is the foundation for resilience; the way we view the world. Six ways to build a resilient attitude include:

Chad A. Buck, PhD: Work/Life Connections – EAP and Health Plus Many people struggle with eating well, and emotions can definitely complicate efforts to improve eating habits. Here are a few strategies to help the odds be ever in your favor:

Chad A. Buck, PhD: Work/Life Connections – EAP and Health Plus 1. When you have a hard time clearing your mind of thoughts of food, count on your 4 other senses.

Chad A. Buck, PhD: Work/Life Connections – EAP and Health Plus I. What Is The Connection Between Food and Feelings?

Most of us have times when we feel frustrated, irritable, or grouchy. People tend to prefer these terms to describe how they are feeling rather than acknowledging the actual feeling – anger. People can be so afraid of the word that they deny, avoid, and minimize their actual experiences. All this does is postpone and intensify the eventual expression of this feared feeling.