Surviving the Holidays

Does the thought of the holiday season, filled with festive office parties and get togethers, give you a sense of excitement? Or does it leave you with a sense of impending flare-up doom? Whether you're excited to celebrate the holidays and the New Year or not, we've got some suggestions of how to get through and make the most of the festivities.

Holiday stress triggers flare-ups

Holidays are stressful, even for those who aren't suffering from an autoimmune disease. As ChrisP notes, holiday obligations can also be stress-inducing!  Self-care is always important and it's easy to forget when you're caught up in the holiday shopping/party craze.

Holiday celebrating - when you aren't feeling festive

Have an office party or special evening out? Having a flare-up when you have a party or important celebration is only par for the course. It's tough enough trying to figure out what to wear, let alone when you're dealing with flakes or even bleeding. If you have no choice but to soldier on through, AnnaN shares her makeup tips and DianeT talks about hair tips to help you feel more comfortable with your appearance.

Family and Friends

Holidays can also mean spending lots of quality time with family. If you're one of the lucky ones, your family understands the struggles that accompany psoriasis. However, if your family doesn't "get it," you may find this article by HowardC helpful.

And, if you're a caregiver or friends with someone who has psoriasis, AnnaN has a list of gift ideas that are sure to be a hit!

Finally, it's hard to believe that we're already at the end of another year. With 2016 wrapping up, how would you describe your life with psoriasis this year? Has it been an especially difficult year or have things gotten better for you? Share your thoughts with the community about 2016.