No perfect Christmas: dealing with stress over the holidays

It's supposed to be a time of joy but many people find the holiday season stressful.

From attending family functions to the financial pressures of gift buying, it's important to set limits and plan to deal with the stress.

Manager of Community Adult Programs with the Saskatoon Health Region Michelle Buglas explained that people have an expectation of what the festive season is supposed to be like.

"Coming into the holiday season we might feel like we have to have everything perfect or we have to have the perfect gift, the perfect meal, or the perfect dress for the party, whatever it is," Buglassaid onSaskatoon Morning. "When our reality doesn't fit with that we can feel really out of order and become stressed or depressed."

Signs that people aren't coping well include poor eating habits, irritability, sadness, increased fatigue, and feelings of isolation.