Holiday Stress and Wellness Edition: Holiday Stress and Mental Health

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Mark A. Frye, M.D. For many, the holidays are a time for happiness and connecting with family and friends. It’s often a time of celebration. But for some, it can be a time of increased stress, anxiety and sadness. In some cases, our good health habits such as eating healthy, regular exercise and getting adequate sleep are replaced by overeating, consuming excess alcohol and taking on too many responsibilities. A recent study by the American Psychological Society found that 89% of those surveyed felt stressed during the holiday season. What are the most common reasons for this stress? Can we avoid it? If not, what are the best ways to manage it? I’ll be discussing these topics with my guest, Mark Frye, M.D., a psychiatrist from the Mayo Clinic. The topic for this podcast is “Holiday Stress and Mental Health”. Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.