Annie Slease, Director of Advocacy and Education for NAMI, the National Alliance On Mental Health, Delaware, picked up our last coversation, and offered ways to better mental heath through the holidays.  She makes a ‘Bucket’ analogy, we can keep adding strees to that bucket, until it can hold no more and it spills out in conflict, outbursts and poor choices, bad decisions, and even physical health effects.  She tells us to allow ourselves grace in dealing with the hlidays and the continued shut-down, manage expectations and do things to help improve your outlook.  Stress is contagious, a calmer you can mean better relationships and make it easier for your children to cope.  She recommends simple things such and deep breaths, eating healthier foods and getting excercise, learning to say ‘no.’   For children she suggested getting creative in reimaging the holidays and finding new ways to celebrate.  NAMI.org