Do You Have Holiday Gift Anxiety?

If you’re having anxiety about the last few Christmas gifts you have yet to buy… you’re not alone.

Mental health professionals say it’s not selfish to take a step back from the demands of the holidays and take care of “you”.

As the malls begin to flood with last minute shoppers, for some people, anxiety does too.

“It was crunch time, because I usually get done by Black Friday,” said Crystal Johnson of Horace.

Johnson has made two trips to the mall in two days and she says the anxiety of getting it all done made her go a little bit overboard.

“It was like pressure. I was like tired after I know I had like 20 bags in each hand,” said Johnson.

She says the stress of getting it all done, even took a toll on her physically.

“It was like exhausted this morning my eyes were kind of droopy, and I have to work with kids all day so I was like I need my coffee,” she said.

Mental health professionals say something as simple as taking a deep breath can help you get through your gift giving anxiety with a little more peace.

“Relaxation skills…to be able to take some deep breaths to be able to focus on one task at a time, and not trying to get everything accomplished in one burst with it be gift giving or preparations or whatever it happens to be,” said Jamie Pfeifer, a counselor at Benson Psychological Services.

Pfeifer also recommends that gift givers under pressure take a step back.

“All of these different questions that come along with the holidays, and people don’t sometimes take enough time to consider “what do I need to do to take care of myself in this”, and take some of the pressure off,” said Pfeifer.

Another helpful tip is to make gift shopping a social outing, inviting a friend or loved one for moral support.