We have covered a bit of this ground before, and again I urge you to communicate, take the rest (and medicines) you need, and use your coping strategies to get through the stress of the holidays.

Stress can be part of the “Holiday Package.“

Things have loosened up and you may be putting family events together, gathering to open gifts, and doing things you haven’t been able to do for a couple of years. It can be hard to get back into the swing of things.

Presents? Oh, don’t get me started! The logistics of getting everything to everyone with the uncertainty as to whether things will get there in time…

My point, my Burning Mouth Syndrome brothers and sisters, is that it can all be stressful. Life in general right now can be stressful and if you are experiencing more pain than usual, you may be suffering a “flare” that has been caused by it.

What can you do?

Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and hydration. Take your medicines faithfully if you have been prescribed them. Now is not the time to let depression from chronic pain take over, so schedule a telehealth conversation with your counselor or therapist if you have one. Keep your coping strategies at hand! (Cold drinks, Advil or Tylenol, meditation, exercise, whatever works for you!)

Mask up if you are unvaccinated/boosted or haven’t had COVID recently when you are in crowded spaces with other people. Flu and RSV can be as communicable as COVID and you don’t want any of these holiday guests, right? Children are taking a particularly hard hit with RSV and Flu this year, so protect them as well.

But what about family and friend conversations? How do I handle them when talking seems to make me burn even more?

Yeah, that’s a hard one, but think about what you really want to say to precious family members and say it. Don’t waste your pain tolerance on chitchat if you can avoid it. Be frank with your family about your pain and what helps and what doesn’t. They love you and will understand if you are a bit quiet during a visit or on a call as long as what you do say comes from the heart.

And that is what the holidays are all about, whether the folks you love are near or far, virtual or in real life. Love is rarely an unwelcome present.

Happy Holidays to all of you, and I am praying that 2023 becomes a blessing to this world, even if it takes a while.