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Stress is an inevitable part of life. In a fast-paced world that seems always on the go, stress can be very consuming. As people rush to attend parties, shop for gifts or make last-minute plans for vacations this holiday season, heightened levels of anxiety can turn life upside down.

"There's the expectation that people will be merry, jolly and having a lot of fun, and that's an added stressor if you don't feel that way," told Laura Hamill, an organizational psychologist at Limeade as quoted saying by CIO.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), holiday-related stress is often manifested by symptoms that include but not limited to tension, irritability, fear, anxiety, anger, nightmares, crying, headaches, body aches and more as mentioned in a published article by Las Cruces Sun- News.

So why are holidays stressful for some people?

There are a number of reasons attributed to feeling stress at a time when everyone should be merrymaking. Apart from the usual stressors like financial woes or unkind work schedule, stress can also come from unlikely sources.

In an online article by WABI TV-5, holiday stress is can be also be a result of doing things devoid real personal meaning, self-induced stress due to negative coping mechanisms like overeating or binge drinking, seasonal affective disorder (some people just feel depressed during winter time), and dysfunctional family relations.

To fight off the toxic effects of holiday-induced stress, Forbes offers a number of practical tips:

1. Develop and maintain healthy routines or habits such as regular exercise.
2. Eat healthy. Our state of emotions is also linked to ingestion.
3. Get enough rest and sleep. Rebooting your body gives a feeling of rejuvenation.
4. Avoid conversations that will likely lead to unresolvable arguments.
5. Keep your social connections real and healthy. Discard toxic people off your friends' list.
6. Avoid comparing yourself to others. Each person has his or her unique challenges.
7. Preoccupy yourself with meaningful social activities like helping others or making new friends to divert energy away from less meaningful distractions.
8. Don't take things too seriously.
9. Embrace life with renewed optimism.

The next time you feel burdened with holiday stress, relax and feel the spirit of the holiday season.