Your Senses are Talking: Surviving the Holidays
This month, I’d like to invite you to consider the holidays from a different angle—from the perspective of your sensory system.
Believe it or not, everything boils down to our five senses: sight, smell, taste, sound, and touch. Understanding this has led me to much greater respect for our sensory system and how our senses affect our bodies, our health, our subconscious memories, our…well, our everything!
Overwhelm
This blog is a holiday edition of my original Blog Your Senses Are Talking… Are you Listening?
That said, let’s talk about the holidays. Ask yourself: How do I typically feel during the holidays? After the holidays? Exhausted? Depressed? Empty? Sensitive? Crying more? Irritable? Like it’s time to go back to therapy?
I hear you!
To avoid that unpleasant status quo this year, let’s see how we can prevent this and make the holidays truly cheerful and healthy. Let’s look at our senses one by one.
Sight
Most women love changes in seasonal home décor, but think of other family members. In my experience as a social worker, quite frequently these changes lead to anxieties. Color has the most powerful effect on our bodies. Think twice before you fill your entire house with bright red pillows, ribbons, and what not. Yes, red brings energy, but with one major message: fight or flight! Limit red décor in your main living area, and certainly avoid it in children’s bedrooms. In addition, clutter (too many objects) immensely affects our brains and bodies.
Some people may feel completely overwhelmed in an intensely decorated house.
Smell
Everyone’s brain is sensitive to smells, but sometimes we have no clue what smells make us irritable. It could be that glorious candle you love so much—but, again, a family member could feel ill after smelling it.
I do not light candles in my household except for small unscented tea candles to keep my tea pot warm.
With a cluster of smells coming from candles, cooking, new gifts, Christmas trees, etc., it’s a lot for our brains to handle at the same time.
Taste
With so much food available during the holidays, our stomachs have minimum time to digest, especially when families need to move from one household to another in one day. (Add to this the feelings of guilt because of additional pounds gained.)
Sugary holiday treats remind us of our childhoods—but what was safe when you were a child might not be any more.
Modern foods are filled with preservatives, sugars, salt, and more, thus affecting this nation’s physical and emotional health.
It’s okay to limit your cookie preparation, and perhaps try some recipes with minimal sugar—and don’t push your guests to try all the cookies.
Sound
Lots of talking, loud laughter, music, and commotion at family gatherings may seem exciting!
But for those who struggle with sensitive sensory systems, anxieties, and other psychological and mental challenges, too much of everything is simply…too much.
Offer your children, spouse, guests, and yourself the possibility of escaping for a bit into a quiet space (room).
Excuse yourself without a feeling of guilt.
Touch
Some children (and even adults) may not like the feel of their new Christmas pajamas or socks. Honor those feelings. Our senses affect us in quite a powerful way. Children’s brains will react with them crying and or having a temper tantrum. Adults just try to hide the pain and discomfort inside.
Some may think this is a negative article, but I hope most will understand that I do not propose stopping any special traditions. My goal is simply to share information with you, and you will make the best choices for yourself and your family.
Your senses are talking... Are you listening?
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