'Tis the Season to Be Stressed - CounselingCalifornia.com Offers Five Tips to Holiday Happiness

(San Diego - November 3, 2009) - If you're feeling like the Grinch this holiday season, you're not alone. While the holidays are usually seen as a happy time, they can actually be very stressful, filled with too many obligations, financial stress and family-related anxiety.

CounselingCalifornia.com reminds you to take time for yourself this holiday season. Feeling overwhelmed? Get back in the holiday spirit with these helpful tips from CounselingCalifornia.com:

1. 1. Trim the tree, and your gift list. It's time to downsize, especially in this economy. If you're buying a gift for every sibling, aunt, uncle and in-law, talk to your family about setting a price limit and drawing names to buy for just one person. Schedule a holiday potluck or dinner out with friends and forgo gifts, or get the group together for a festive volunteer activity, such as serving a meal at a local soup kitchen. Focus on enjoying one another's time minus the stress of gift giving.
   
   
2. 2. Channel Santa's workshop. Enlist the help of your partner and kids in holiday preparations. Give the kids gifts to wrap, get their help making holiday cookies, give your partner a list of gifts to buy on a lunch break or schedule a family decorating day. Sharing the holiday chores will help relieve your stress so that you can really experience the holiday cheer.
   
   
3. 3. Here we come a-scheduling. Coordinating holiday activities for everyone in the family can be overwhelming. Create a family holiday calendar that you post in a prominent place that includes color-coded activities for every family member. At a glance, you'll be able to see what obligations are coming up, if you're overbooked and what you need to prepare. Pencil in several shopping trips to ensure you're not scrambling at the last minute.
   
   
4. 4. Make a list...and check it twice. It sounds simple, but making a list of who you need to shop for, how much you want to spend and gift ideas will eliminate a lot of stress and last-minute trips to the store. Also, buy some generic gifts to have on hand, like candles or gift cards, that you can grab if you need a spur-of-the-moment gift.
5. 5. Say no. You don't have to attend every holiday gathering you're invited to, or participate in every white elephant gift exchange. Graciously decline and you won't be overwhelmed by extended obligations.

The issues individuals face during the holiday season can add to or magnify existing mental health problems that may be manageable otherwise. If you are experiencing more than the holiday blues, or think you may be depressed, take control of your mental health by seeking counseling. Find a licensed California-based Marriage and Family Therapist in your area at www.CounselingCalifornia.com, a free service offered by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

About CAMFT
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) is a professional organization representing the state's leading licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. CAMFT provides CounselingCalifornia.com as a resource for individuals looking for marriage and family therapists located in California. Marriage and Family Therapists treat a range of issues including depression, anxiety, phobias/fears, elder and child issues, relationship issues, post-traumatic stress and severe mental illness. For more information, visit www.camft.org or www.CounselingCalifornia.com.

Media Contact: Amber Albrecht
Porter Novelli
Phone: (619) 687-7015 or (949) 500-2535
E-mail: amber.albrecht@porternovelli.com