How to Enjoy the Holidays Despite Endometriosis | MyEndometriosisTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up Log in
Resources
About MyEndometriosisTeam
Powered By

How to Enjoy the Holidays Despite Endometriosis

Posted on October 24, 2019

Living with endometriosis may change your holidays, but you can still have enjoyable and meaningful celebrations. Although endometriosis may make some holiday traditions challenging, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy connecting with friends and family during the holiday season. By communicating your limitations due to endometriosis, being flexible, and adjusting your expectations, you can help make sure the holidays are happy and memorable.

Communicate Your Needs

Let your loved ones know that connecting with them over the holidays is as important as ever to you, but chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis is making it hard to plan as usual. Researchers are studying whether stress has a role in the development and progression of endometriosis. You need to put your health first or risk worsening your condition.

  • Don't be afraid to say no.
  • It can help to use direct "I" statements. For instance, "I am not feeling well enough to host this year" is better than "Having everyone over is just too stressful." Communicating in this way makes your needs clear without making others feel accused or burdensome.
  • Even if you usually maintain healthy boundaries, the holidays are a time when they may be tested. If a friend or family member tries to make you feel guilty for setting your boundaries, gently remind them that endo doesn't take the holidays off, as much as you wish it did.

Be Flexible

Instead of saying "no," say "yes" to something else. If a family tradition no longer works for you since you developed endometriosis, it may be time to suggest an update.

  • If you can't travel as usual, consider offering to host. Ask others to bring potluck dishes and help clean up so you don't wind up overdoing it.
  • If you usually host the gathering but can't do it this year, encourage someone else to host instead. They may be delighted to welcome everyone to their home for a change.
  • If you always bring a beloved dish, pass the treasured recipe on to a loved one like you would a family heirloom, or shine the limelight on another chef in the family and invite them to bring their favorite dish.
  • If you can't bring yourself to give up the party, think of ways to save time and energy. Use paper plates, plastic flatware, and disposable tablecloths for easy cleanup. Make decorating (or de-decorating) part of the event and get everyone to help. Plan a low-impact meal such as a stew that simmers all day in the crock pot with little prep work or tending.

If it's just not possible to get together in one place this year, consider using a video chat service such as Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime to have a special holiday call on a smartphone or laptop. During a video chat, you can:

  • Watch family open gifts
  • Have them show you the decorations around the house
  • Read a holiday story or poem to the children
  • Sing favorite holiday songs together

Adjust Your Expectations

Even without a chronic illness like endometriosis, holidays often come with high expectations that lead to disappointment and stress. Letting go of the illusion of a "perfect" holiday can help you keep expectations realistic and focus on what's most important about the holidays. For many people, that means connecting with loved ones, being thankful for what you have, and finding hope for the new year.

Here are some mindful tips from Johns Hopkins Medicine for adjusting holiday expectations:

  • Accept that your holidays won't be perfect and will be different from celebrations in years past.
  • Focus on what really counts. Find things to be grateful for and look for new ways to connect with loved ones.
  • If you get into a conflict with someone over the holidays, take a few breaths before you react. Try to stay compassionate and react with kindness.
  • As you reflect on last year, be kind to yourself and let go of any negativity. As you look forward to next year, make smaller, gradual resolutions rather than huge goals that will be difficult to achieve.

During the holidays and year-round, the members of MyEndometriosisTeam are here for each other. Joining MyEndometriosisTeam means gaining a support group of thousands of others with endometriosis who understand exactly what you're going through.

Here are some conversations from MyEndometriosisTeam members about navigating the holiday season with endo:

Have you found ways to celebrate the holidays despite endo? Share in the comments below or post on MyEndometriosisTeam.

Posted on October 24, 2019
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Become a Subscriber

Get the latest articles about endometriosis sent to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Related Articles

Welcome to MyEndometriosisTeam — the place to connect with others living with endometriosis. Thi...

Getting Started on MyEndometriosisTeam (VIDEO)

Welcome to MyEndometriosisTeam — the place to connect with others living with endometriosis. Thi...
This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which can give you mor...

Self-Kindness When Struggling: 6-Minute Guided Meditation

This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which can give you mor...
If you’re living with endometriosis, you may notice that your symptoms come on strong during flar...

Managing Endometriosis Flare-Ups

If you’re living with endometriosis, you may notice that your symptoms come on strong during flar...
Endometriosis is a fairly common condition that affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. ...

Finding Endometriosis Support Online

Endometriosis is a fairly common condition that affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. ...
Endometriosis can be a debilitating disease that can affect a person’s ability to work. While up ...

Balancing Work and Endometriosis

Endometriosis can be a debilitating disease that can affect a person’s ability to work. While up ...
Some people living with endometriosis find that practicing mild forms of yoga can be an enjoyable...

Yoga for Endometriosis: Your Guide

Some people living with endometriosis find that practicing mild forms of yoga can be an enjoyable...

Recent Articles

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is so rare that doctors have a hard time estimating how man...

Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome: What You Need To Know

Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is so rare that doctors have a hard time estimating how man...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are typically caused by an infection in the urinary system, but p...

Can Endometriosis Cause a UTI?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are typically caused by an infection in the urinary system, but p...
Endometriosis is a condition that affects an estimated 1 in 10 women worldwide. Despite how commo...

Is Endometriosis Hereditary?

Endometriosis is a condition that affects an estimated 1 in 10 women worldwide. Despite how commo...
Although endometritis and endometriosis are two separate conditions, it’s common for people to co...

Endometritis vs. Endometriosis: Understanding the Difference

Although endometritis and endometriosis are two separate conditions, it’s common for people to co...
If your doctor has asked you to undergo an endometrial biopsy, you may have questions about the p...

Endometrial Biopsy: Why Is It Done? What Does It Show?

If your doctor has asked you to undergo an endometrial biopsy, you may have questions about the p...
Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 girls and women of reproductive age worldwide, according to ...

Bowel Endometriosis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 girls and women of reproductive age worldwide, according to ...
MyEndometriosisTeam My endometriosis Team

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close
MyEndometriosisTeam
Add to your home screen
MyEndometriosisTeam Tap below and then 'Add to Home Screen'