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Holiday stress: An open letter to the Ridgefield community
Holiday stress: An open letter to the Ridgefield community
Carol Mahlstedt, MSW, Psy.D., Lori Bran, M.Ed. Kristen Abbott, Ph.D., Elizabeth Engelberg, Psy.D. Patrick McAuliffe, Ph.D., Martha Evans Morris, LMSW Melanie Puza Pearl, Ph.D., Tony Phillips, LCSW Brook Pieri, LCSW and Denise Qualey, MSW and Karen Walant, Ph.D.
Dec. 23, 2020
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Ridgefielders letters to the editor should be emailed to: news@theridgefieldpress.com.Many medical professionals in the town write this letter about ways people in the town can deal with holiday stress, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.Macklin Reid / Hearst Connecticut Media
Written by HH
An Open Letter to the Ridgefield Community
Disclaimer: We know this letter to you is long. This is because we care deeply about our community. Please read all the way to the end. That’s where the important stuff is.
Dear Ridgefield Neighbors and Friends:
In normal times, the holidays can be stressful. Now, here we are, moving into the holiday season after living for nine months through a pandemic that has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. Recently, the American Psychological Association reported that most Americans (78%), including young people (64%), are reporting considerable stress related to coping with Covid-19. Thus, it is quite likely that these holidays will challenge everyone’s mental health. Ongoing feelings of sadness, anxiety, loss and frustration will be exacerbated by the added loss of cherished traditions, the absence of family, and the loss of loved ones. When the holidays are over and the days flow into winter, with its colder t