Holiday Shopping without Anxiety

The holiday season is upon us. Here are helpful tips for making your holiday shopping more anxiety-free.

Be aware that the lights, noise, and crowds of holiday shopping can set off the fight or flight response, which results in the physical reactions that we call anxiety symptoms. Numerous transitions such as going in and out of the car several times, getting in and out of traffic, and visiting numerous stores in one trip are also recipes for stress.

To help you minimize the fight or flight response:

-- Shop at the times of day and on the days that are less busy. Late evening and week days are good times to buy.

-- If possible, limit your shopping to 1 or 2 stores that are in the same general location to reduce transitions.

-- Bring a healthy snack (a protein, a whole-grain, and a fruit or vegetable) and a bottle of water with you to help maintain blood sugar levels as you shop.

-- Take a break if the bright lights, crowded check-out lines, and other stimuli start to feel overwhelming.

-- Shop online when possible.

-- Buy a few gifts every time you are out instead of doing all of your shopping in one trip.

About Deanne

Deanne Repich - Founder and director of the National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc., is an internationally renowned anxiety educator, teacher, author, and former sufferer who has helped tens of thousands of anxiety sufferers in more than 40 countries to reclaim their lives from anxiety, stress, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and social anxiety.

She is the creator of the Conquer Anxiety Success Program, author of more than one hundred articles, and publisher of the Anxiety-Free Living printed Newsletter for anxiety sufferers. She is a Member of Mental Health America and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.