If the Holidays are Awkward for You

Do you find the holiday season awkward? For most of my life, I thought I should be somewhere for holidays, particularly New Year’s Eve.

When I finally did end up at a party, I often felt awkward, overwhelmed, and uncomfortable. I just wanted to be home out of my sparkly dress and heels most of the time (both of which were digging into me in some form or fashion).

Once I realized that I was Highly Sensitive (HSP), I also realized that my holiday “parties” are going to be low-key, pretty quiet, peaceful, and comfortable (and in PJ’s if I’m at home!).

If you hate holiday parties, maybe you’re HSP?

HSP is the sensory leg of the autistic triangle. It’s just one leg of three that are necessary to be diagnosed autistic . . . .actually it’s really only one half of one leg. So it doesn’t mean you’re autistic.

HSP people can be sensitive to lights, sound, textures, smells, touch, taste or food textures, crowded places, pain, visual details, and unpredictability (as in they don’t really like it). They can feel physically ill if they’re overstimulated.

You can read more or take a quiz to see if you’re HSP right here (I’m not affiliated with this website): https://hsperson.com/test/

If you’re HSP, it’s how you’re wired. You can’t change it. But you can do things to adapt.

Here are some suggestions:

• Wear ear plugs or headphones. Over the ear ones are pretty direct signals not to talk to you too much.
• Wear comfortable clothing. Make sure it’s soft enough for you and the tags are all cut out.
• Stay for a short while. Don’t try to push yourself too long or too hard.
• Chill out on your phone and ignore the comments about “people on their phone.” Those are a-holes anyway making them.
• If you don’t want to, don’t go to the party at all. Stay home and tell everyone you can’t wait to see the pictures.

What if you’re not HSP, you just dislike everyone and don’t want to be there?

Your phone is your friend. Just keep staring at it . . .and hope that person talking beside you will eventually go away.

We talked alllll about this in the last newsletter. In cast you missed it, you can read it here >>>>Tips for Holiday Sanity

Peace and health and Relatively Happy Holidays,
Dr. Liz