Holiday Loss of Control

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

I dread the temptations that I face during this time of year, especially too much spending and eating. Could you write about my fears?

Dear Reader:

Your difficulties are shared by many. Prior to the holiday season, many individuals struggle to achieve healthy weight by exercising and controlling their eating behavior. The holiday season comes along and the behaviors that helped them maintain balance are challenged. Co-workers bring delicious and fattening foods to work and there are many open houses, school program, and other related holiday activities to tempt the palette. Almost every place an individual goes he faces and invitation to eat. Has anyone ever heard of a holiday exercise celebration such as a get-together to walk the mall or park? Perhaps a new tradition should commence.

Loss of control can occur in chemical addiction and substance abuse as well. Stress, fatigue, depression, and overload of activity all increase the risk of falling back into a pattern of alcohol or drug use. Commercials and other advertisements encourage those in recovery to get back into the “spirit of things,” and this encouragement can result in a return to the cycle of abuse. Alcohol is often more readily available at the holidays, and abuse is more anticipated and tolerated during this time.

Difficult to control is the ever-growing holiday budget. Again, the
messages in society encourage individuals to depart from balance and discipline, if only for a few weeks, in order to make them think that happiness will be created by spending money. Remembering others with expensive gifts adds up to a blown budget. After the holidays are over it may take a long time to pay of holiday debts.

Several things can be done to diminish the likelihood that the holiday season will lead to the emergence or re-emergence of unwanted and unhealthy patterns of behavior. If you have effectively dealt with healthy patterns during other times of the year, don't let the upcoming season dictate and sway you. Make good choices and decisions a present to yourself and your family by saying no at the appropriate time in order to maintain the gains that you have made.

Seek the help of support groups and friends and consider professional resources if needed. Don't let the holidays become a liability. Plan ahead and set goals in order to emerge on January 2nd with a good feeling about yourself.