An Inova psychiatrist says that the “friendsgiving” tradition could be a good way to de-stress and center yourself.<\/p>\n
Family Thanksgiving gatherings can be stressful. A local psychiatrist says that a \u201cfriendsgiving\u201d could help give you a break this holiday season.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes sense that friendsgiving, to me, would be beneficial,\u201d said Sam Schiavone, division chief of inpatient adult psychiatry at Inova in Falls Church, Virginia. \u201cIt\u2019s more colloquial.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that the tradition could be a good way to de-stress and center yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s (friends) that you\u2019ve made and sought and get along with and now you\u2019re spending time together, good quality time, and giving thanks to each other. Just celebrating the friendship that you made, rather than celebrating the holiday,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Schiavone said just being grateful is a good thing for your mental health.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing with people that you love and they love you is going to make you feel more connected, more grounded,\u201d he said. \u201cJust by virtue of social connection, that has been shown to improve well being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being grateful actually impacts your mood, which could help when we might be stressed about going to a traditional Thanksgiving with family you haven\u2019t seen in awhile.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving thanks does a trick in our brain where it feels like we\u2019re also getting thanks. So we tend to feel happy and good when we\u2019re praising others,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of healthy chemicals, neurotransmitters get expressed when we receive things, but even when we give thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when it comes to traditional Thanksgivings with family, he said tell them you\u2019re grateful for them, and some physical touch can go a long way too.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust hugging family members, hugging friends can release good happy chemicals in the brain, like oxytocin,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n