_edited.png)
When December Hurts: How Self-Compassion Can Calm Holiday Stress and Anxiety
- FYBC
- Dec 10, 2025
- 3 min read
People talk about the holidays as if they’re always joyful.
But the truth is that December can be one of the hardest months of the year for some.
Behind the lights and gatherings, many people quietly struggle with holiday stress, holiday anxiety, and the pressure to look happy even when they’re not.
Holiday Stress and Anxiety Is More Common Than You Think
Most people don’t talk about it, but the holiday season often brings:
pressure to show up for everyone
financial worries
family tension
exhaustion from nonstop schedules
loneliness, even in a room full of people
grief that feels sharper in December
Research shows that many people experience a noticeable rise in stress during this time of year. This is why caring for your mental health during the holidays matters.
The season doesn’t always match what you’re feeling inside and that mismatch alone can make everything heavier.
Why Anxiety Spikes in December
Your body is sensitive to pressure and emotional overload.
And the holidays bring all of it at once.
Your nervous system reacts to:
disrupted routines
packed calendars
expectations to be cheerful
unresolved family dynamics
noise, crowds, and overstimulation
constant comparison
the pressure to “hold everything together”
When these stack up, your anxiety increases not because you’re weak, but because your body is trying to protect you.
Self-Compassion Isn’t Softness. It’s Emotional Strength
Self-compassion isn’t about letting yourself off the hook.
It’s about meeting yourself with the same warmth you offer the people you love.
Research by Dr. Kristin Neff explains how self-compassion can lower anxiety and increase emotional resilience.
It sounds like:
“It makes sense that I feel overwhelmed.”
“I don’t have to force myself to be okay.”
“I deserve kindness too.”
When you shift from self-criticism to self-kindness, something powerful happens:
your breath softens, your body loosens, and your mind stops fighting itself.
And suddenly, you’re no longer bracing your way through the holidays—you’re meeting them with steadiness.
A Simple Self-Compassion Reset for December
When you feel the tension rising, try this:
Pause for a breath.
Name what you feel without judging it.
Respond gently: “Anyone in my place would feel this way.”
Give yourself permission to rest, decline, slow down, or simply be human.
This is not avoidance. It’s emotional regulation. Prolonged stress can overwhelm the brain’s ability to regulate emotions. Self-compassion helps restore that balance.
When Holiday Stress Turns Into Something More
Some holiday stress is normal. But if you’re noticing:
constant worry
trouble sleeping
irritability
emotional numbness
dread about gatherings
feeling “not like yourself”
…your system may be carrying more than it can hold right now.
There’s no shame in that.
There’s only honesty and the chance to take care of what’s hurting.
Start With a Quiet Check-In: Take Our Anxiety Test
If you’re unsure where your symptoms fall, we created a simple way to check in with yourself.
Our Anxiety Screening Test is private, gentle, and takes less than two minutes.
👉 Take the Anxiety Test hereUnderstanding what’s happening inside you is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
And Yes We Accept Insurance
If you choose to start therapy afterward, know that we accept most insurances,
because support should feel accessible, not impossible.
Your healing deserves room.
It deserves compassion.
It deserves care that fits your life.
A Final Note for Anyone Struggling This December
If this season feels heavy, please remember:
You don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to carry everything alone.
You don’t have to match the mood of the holidays.
Self-compassion won’t erase every burden, but it will give you breath where life feels tight. It will soften the edges of your stress.
It will remind you that you are allowed to be human even in December.
Support is closer than you think. We’re here for you, with appointments available within three days. Many clients use their insurance benefits to begin therapy during the holidays, including plans like Aetna, which help make care more accessible. Find Your Balance offers evidence-based, compassionate therapy. Book your appointment at findyourbalancecenter.com/book-now or call (818) 927-0478. Summary of Linked Sources:
Comments