I ran to my Mother, "Mom, Patricia said that I'm not gonna get any presents for Christmas because it's not my birthday!"

My Mother shot a look at my sister that told me that I was so gonna get present's. And lot's of them!

"Santa Claus will bring you present's Michael, just like he does every year."

I was seven years old, right on the cusp of believing in Santa Claus. My sister was 13. What does she know anyway?

The following year, I turned 8 and no longer believed in Santa...but I wasn't gonna let on. However, it was my first known experience with Stress!

Many many years have passed, and I can still recall the incident. And now, as we prepare for the holidays, it seems that stress is the number 1 topic on the minds of almost everyone. Why is that?

Here's an example of the more than 500 press release's, articles and overall submissions we receive per day at this time of the year:

"Money is the # 1 Cause of Stress During the Holidays"

"Coping with Family During the Holidays"

"Holiday Stress: Medicate or Meditate?"

Here's what the American Psychological Association had to say about money and stress:

Money Issues Leading Cause of Holiday Stress For Americans

"What causes the most stress during the holiday season? Money issues were the top vote getters for holiday stress, according to a recent poll by the American Psychological Association (APA).

The Survey found that 61% of Americans listed lack of money as the top cause of holiday stress followed by the pressures of gift giving, lack of time, and credit card debt. Survey results also show that younger Americans are more worried about lack of money and gift giving compared to people over the age of 35."

Here is one solution that can be very effective and a major stress release for those involved: put a limit of the dollar amount that each person in a family has to spend!

I know of a family that has nine members, and they all look forward to the Christmas Holidays. Four of them are retired and live on a fixed income. Four of them are still working, and one is a nine year-old girl.

Each and every year since they can remember, they all went out and bought everyone in the family an individual present. Eight presents in total...a present for each one of them!

Just think of the financial toll this can take on everyone. How much to spend for him, her, them? Is it enough? Too much? Too little?

Well, there's a very simple solution to this problem. Write a letter to each one, or speak to each one personally and suggest that it might be time to pool everyone's resources.

Do what this family did. Take a sheet of paper and write all of the names of your family on it. Then cut them out and place them all in a hat. Have one person (a child perhaps) pick them out name by name, and list them 1 through 9. Put the names back in the hat, and pick them again. Match the names to the same order they were picked, and those two persons will have to buy the other a gift.

Now, put a limit on the amount of money spent. This family started out at $100 each, then debated it down to $50 and then all settled on $25. You could almost see the inner relief on all involved.

"It's amazing how creative you can get on just $25.00" said one of the family. She went on "Now, the biggest treat is to see who was the most creative!"

There is just one thing all members agreed on "Each of us can still buy the nine-year old all the presents we want. This seems to make everyone very happy."

Now that we have alleviated a lot of financial stress, lets deal with "Holiday Stress: Medicate or Meditate?"

This from Maharishi Vedic City in Iowa:

"Research shows that for many people the holiness of the season is shadowed by anxiety and depression, alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, and even suicide.

To cope with this stressful time more and more doctors are offering up a surprise prescription: meditation.

Americans in astonishing numbers—some 20 million, according to a recent issue of TIME—have already taken up the advice. Stress-busting meditation is now in books and tapes, schools and colleges, yoga centers, hospitals, businesses—everywhere."

I would like to strongly suggest that you look into a meditation program, if you haven't already. There are both religious and non-religious programs available. They can easily be found in the Yellow Pages, or ask a friend, relative or your clergyman/woman.

Now, onto our final headline:

"Coping with Family During the Holidays"

I promise you, that if you have taken the financial advice and the meditation advice, this will be a breeze :)

Happy Holidays to you all, and of all religions...may peace be with you

© 2005 HealthNewsDigest.com