When some people think of the winter holidays, they picture a happy time celebrating old memories and creating new. But it’s not all perfectly wrapped presents and cozy sweaters for everyone; the holidays can actually be very difficult for many. If you are having a difficult time in your life already, the holidays can unfortunately exacerbate feelings of sadness, despair, loneliness and anxiety.

We all have times in our life when we experience distress. Events, often out of our control, can cause us minor emotional discomfort to immense pain and suffering. Crises can come unexpectedly and often cannot be fixed in the moment, or even if they are fixable, we might feel too overwhelmed to problem solve effectively.

Know that feeling of your heart beating faster in response to a stressful situation? Or your palms getting sweaty when you are confronted with an overwhelming task or event? That’s anxiety – our body’s natural response to stress.

Spring has arrived! How fitting that a month of flowers blooming, sun re-emerging, and birds singing is the same month celebrating a profession that encourages growth and renewal.