Spending Holidays With Family And Friends – Too Much, Too Little, Or Just Right?
Speaker: Sharsheret’s Senior Advisor, Shera Dubitsky, MEd, MA
For many, the holidays are a time to spend with family and friends. However, this aspect of the holiday season can come with challenges. The tips below can help you overcome these challenges.
- Sometimes you may choose to withhold information about your treatment or health for various reasons. Though this can be the right decision based on your circumstances, it can also take a lot of energy to contain this information. Factor this in when preparing for the holiday.
- Arrange to call or visit a friend or family member who you can speak openly with during the holiday so that you have an outlet to speak freely.
- Decide how much information you wish to share and present it in a way that feels most comfortable.
- Don’t feel pressured to share more than you were prepared to share. It’s okay not to answer every question.
- Set emotional and physical boundaries that enable you to feel more comfortable.
- Take care of your needs and clearly communicate your needs to family and friends.
- Teach people how you wish to be treated. They will follow your lead.
- Create time and space for yourself.
- Learn from your past experiences. You know your family and friends’ characters and behaviors. Have reasonable expectations based on what you know.
- You can’t control what people say and how they behave. The meaning and importance you give it is up to you.
- Getting together with friends and family doesn’t need to be limited to the holidays. Be proactive in making plans and carving out time to spend with loved ones.
Join our Embrace teleconference series for women living with advanced cancer »
Connect with our clinical staff for more information and individualized support »