Why Anxiety Often Spikes During the Holidays

Have you noticed your anxiety starting to spike as the holidays get closer? You are not imagining it. This time of year often brings more stress, more expectations, and more pressure, even when some of it is wrapped in celebration.

Your calendar fills up quickly. There are more gatherings to attend, more decisions to make, and more emotional energy required as the year comes to a close. All of this added stress can cause anxiety to respond by increasing. During the holidays, you might notice more overthinking, increased irritability, or moments where your mind feels frozen and it is hard to make even small decisions.

These responses are common. They are your nervous system reacting to a heavier load. Knowing this does not necessarily make the holidays easier, but it can help you understand why anxiety feels louder right now. If anxiety has been directing your story for far too long, it may be time to explore what support could look like, including online therapy in OKC.

The Role of Environment in Anxiety

Anxiety responds to what is happening around you just as much as what is happening inside of you. During the holiday season, external stimulation increases significantly. There are more responsibilities, more social interactions, and more situations that require emotional and mental energy.

Anxiety exists to alert you when something feels off. The problem is that anxiety does not always respond proportionally. Instead of gently signaling that your schedule is too full, it may spiral into constant mental noise. Thoughts race from one obligation to the next, making it hard to feel settled or present.

When anxiety becomes overactive, your ability to respond thoughtfully decreases. You may become more reactive, or you may shut down entirely. Neither response feels good, but both are understandable given the environment you are navigating. Understanding this connection can help you approach your anxiety with more compassion rather than frustration.

Why Home Based Support Can Feel Safer

For many people, online therapy in OKC feels more approachable because it removes several stressors that come with in person appointments. Receiving therapy from home creates a sense of predictability and control that can be especially helpful when anxiety is already elevated.

You do not have to drive to an unfamiliar location, worry about parking, or walk into a space you have never been before. You are not trying to hold yourself together in a waiting room or rush through emotional processing so you can compose yourself before leaving. At home, you can give yourself the time you need before and after a session.

Being in your own space also reduces the number of unknowns. You already know where you are, how the room feels, and what helps you feel grounded. This sense of safety can make it easier to open up and engage fully in the work of therapy.

Online Therapy in OKC as a Calming Option

Online therapy in OKC removes many of the barriers that can prevent people from reaching out for support. When anxiety is already activated, even the process of finding a therapist can feel overwhelming. Too many options, too many decisions, and too much uncertainty can cause anxiety to spike further.

Virtual therapy simplifies the process. You can focus more on finding a therapist who feels like a good fit and less on navigating logistics. This often allows clients to begin meaningful work sooner, sometimes starting in the very first session.

Another powerful aspect of online therapy is practicing regulation skills in the environment where you live your daily life. Learning how to calm anxiety while sitting on your own couch helps your mind and body associate regulation with home, not just a therapy office you visit occasionally. Over time, this can support more sustainable change.

In my work with clients, we focus on understanding anxiety patterns, building awareness, and developing a healthier relationship with anxiety. Regulation becomes something you practice in real time, in a space that already feels familiar.

A Regulation Technique You Can Try Today

Regulation techniques help anxiety feel safer and more manageable. The goal is not to eliminate anxiety but to gently bring its intensity down.

Before trying this exercise, read through the steps and decide if it feels like a good fit for you. You can always stop at any time.

First, set a timer for an amount of time that feels manageable. This could be thirty seconds, one minute, or up to five minutes. There is no right amount of time.

Next, notice where anxiety shows up in your body. You might scan from your toes up to your head and observe areas that feel tight, heavy, or tense. If it helps, think about a mildly stressful situation rather than something overwhelming.

Once you identify where anxiety is located, bring your attention there. You can soften your gaze or close your eyes if that feels comfortable. Take slow, steady breaths.

Rather than telling anxiety to go away, try acknowledging it. You might silently say that it makes sense you feel anxious right now. You can also simply breathe and notice sensations without adding words.

Stay with this awareness until your timer goes off. When it ends, the exercise is complete. You can return to this practice whenever it feels supportive.

Making Anxiety Support More Approachable During the Holidays

The holidays can intensify anxiety in ways that make daily functioning harder than usual. Anxiety does not have to control your life or define your experiences during this season.

Online therapy in OKC can offer support that feels accessible, gentle, and realistic during a busy time of year. If you are curious about how your relationship with anxiety could change, I invite you to reach out and explore what kind of support might be most helpful for you.

A calmer holiday season is possible, even if it looks different than you expected. Schedule your free 15 minute consult today to get added support this season.