My name is Stefanie and I'm part of the team here at MyVirtualPhysician. We are a direct to consumer, multi-specialty, telemedicine provider operating in multiple states. 

It is Talk Tuesday and we are back with our weekly educational series, talking with our experts, exploring some common healthcare concerns that we see, and hopefully answering some questions you may have.

Today our physician expert is Dr. Daniel Kessler and one of our telemedicine providers. We are talking about coping with anxiety during the holidays.

Good morning Dr. Kessler, thank you for joining us today.

Well the holiday season is upon us and I know that this year has been challenging for many, so some people are already stressed or anxious and not looking forward to the holidays. Is it normal to have anxiety during this time?

It can be common to have feelings of anxiety during this time. 

The Oxford dictionary defines anxiety as feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an event or something with an uncertain outcome that may be coming. These can be normal and natural. Many people have these feelings from time to time. During the holidays, Americans may feel financial strain as it can be a season of shopping and gift-giving. They may have to come together with family members that they don’t often see or grieve separation from loved ones and relationships can be challenging or cause anxiety and worry. Many adults have unrealistic expectations for the holiday and that can create anxiety. And already busy schedules can feel the burden of holiday events and activities that can make you even more busy, anxious, or restless.

That makes sense, the holidays can definitely cause anxiety, the worry, nervousness, or unease. So when is anxiety abnormal, or when is it a problem?

In some cases, those thoughts or feelings become intense and excessive, or individuals may become focused on common everyday events or situations that generally should not produce those feelings or at one time did not make the person feel that way. This type of anxiety usually causes physical symptoms such as sweating, racing heartbeat, or even weakness and feeling tired all the time. 

This second more extreme sense of anxiety may be out of the norm, and may require evaluation by a healthcare professional.

Are there other symptoms, other than the intense feelings you mentioned, that someone could look for or identify as signs that they should get help, or someone they know or care about should see a physician?

Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can vary from person to person so if someone is concerned they should talk to their doctor. 

But some other signs or symptoms could include:

Uncontrollable or intrusive thoughts

Fears that prevent someone from doing things like driving, going to certain places, or being alone

Worries that interfere with school, work, or family responsibilities

Sudden episodes of panic

Trouble concentrating

Episodes of Dizziness

Frequent upset stomach or diarrhea

Insomnia or difficulty sleeping

So Dr. Kessler, these may be reasons to talk to your doctor about your anxiety. But for our listeners who may experience some mild feelings of stress or worry around the holidays, and maybe they are reluctant to talk to anyone about them yet, can you tell us about coping with anxiety, and specifically for coping with anxiety during the holidays?

Sure, There are definitely some steps you can take to manage mild anxiety. 

Probably the most important thing is self care and self awareness. Many people overlook taking care of themselves during this season, which is often about giving to others. But you have to be aware of how you’re feeling, and take care of your mental and physical health during this time. 

So here are 5 things that we can all do, to try to stay healthy and happy this holiday and keep anxiety at bay.

Number 1 - Adequate hydration

Don’t forget to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. When you are dehydrated, you won’t feel your best. Also k