For many people, the holidays and Christmas can be not only a very happy and joyous time reuniting with family and friends, but also a very stressful time. Old patterns of behavior emerge, our stress levels go up, and our ability to cope flies out the window.

No sooner have we put away the Thanksgiving turkey that we turn and find the presents we need to wrap for Christmas. The holidays start a few weeks of stress and constant motion for many, as well as feelings of being overwhelmed, depression and even loneliness for others.

We can't stop the world from turning, but perhaps the articles below will help you better cope with the holidays.

General Holiday Coping

• 8 Tips to Make the Most of Your Holidays
  Do things right this season.

• 9 Ways to Have a Simpler but More Satisfying Holiday
  Simplify to surprise yourself!

• The Christmas 'Not To-Do' List
  Things you shouldn't do this holiday season.

• 8 Ways to Keep Your Sanity During the Holidays
  8 simple tips to help you keep your sanity.

• 9 Ideas for Coping with the Holidays When You Have a Mental Illness
  Advice and tips for coping when mental health issues are a part of your life.

• 8 Ways to Take the Joy Out of the Holidays
  Want some sure fire ways to ruin your holiday? Here they are.

• Tips for Melting Your Holiday Stress Away!

• The Season Of Giving (Yourself A Break)

• The Easiest Way to Spread Holiday Cheer

• 8 Ideas for De-Stressing the Holidays

• Holiday Stress Survival Tips
  Top Ten Relaxation Tips to Sooth your Mind and Body During the Holiday Season

• Ho-Ho-Ho-Holiday (Office) Parties: Bah Humbug?
  The annual office party got you down? Here's some ways to make them less painful and more fun.

• 12 Tips to Keep Joy in the Holidays
  You can keep things under control this holiday season with these twelve, down-to-Earth tips.

• Focus on Meaning, Not Money: Christmas on a Budget
  You can still have a good time even when money is tight.

• Holiday Traditions
  Understanding the importance of family traditions around the holidays.

• Simplifying the Holidays
  You won't be able to follow through with whatever good intentions you have for simplifying and de-stressing unless you get to the bottom of why you sabotage yourself time and again.

• It's All In How You Look At It: Transforming Holiday Angst into Gratitude
  Ready or not, like it or not, we're surrounded by holiday hoopla every year. It's no wonder that we all feel stretched.

• Talking Turkey: Managing Unhappy Relatives at Holiday Time
  How do you deal with your most difficult relatives during the holidays?

• Don't Stress Holiday Travel
  Quick tips to get you traveling safely and with less stress than last year.

• Finding Meaning in the Holidays and Christmas
  Take a few moments to reflect upon the meaning of the holidays for you and your life.

• Helpful Hints for Navigating the Holidays
  Helpful tips to help you navigate the holiday gatherings in your life.

• Holiday Coping Tips
  Need more tips? Try these!

Depression, SAD and Drinking

• Celebrating Safely with Alcohol
  8 tips on how to safely celebrate the holidays.

• Nine Ways to Beat the Bah Humbugs
  Feeling like the holidays got you down? Relax and prioritize and you'll be surprised how it all can come together.

• Holiday Drinking: Keep It Safe
  5 strategies for keeping it safe during the holidays.

• Beating the Holiday Blues
  You can beat the holiday blues today!

• Not in the Holiday Mood? It Might Be the Blues
  Why can't you get into the holiday mood? It might be depression or something else.

• Wrung-Out by Ringing-In the Holidays: Dealing with Post-Holiday Blues
  The crazy holiday season is over... Now what?

• Enjoying the Winter Holiday Season
  Although you may feel down this holiday season, there are things you can do today to help make yourself feel better.

• Shedding Light on Winter Depression
  What is "winter depression," or seasonal affective disorder?

• Relapse Season

• Seasonal Affective Disorder
  Psych Central's Seasonal Affective Disorder resource center.

Relationships & the Holidays

• Keep Your Connection Strong This Holiday Season
  5 ways to manage the holidays while maintaining a strong connection with your partner.

• 4 Quick Tips to Help Protect Your Relationship During the Holidays
  Don't take your stress out on your partner.

Children and Family

• Competing Family Loyalties in the Holiday Season
  Dealing with family conflict and make yourself happy in the process.

• The Empty Chair at the Holiday Table
  The first holiday after a loss is the most difficult.

• 'Tis the Season to Regress
  Falling into old familiar family patterns?

• When Your Child Asks, Is Santa Real?
  What do you do when a child asks this inevitable question?

• Holiday Family Drama? How do You Cope?

• Making Tough Decisions At The Holidays - No Bullying

• Holiday Feasts and Family Misbehavior
  Dealing with the family during the holiday dinners.

• Special Occasions and Special Needs Kids
  Here come the holidays. For many parents with special needs kids, here comes more stress.

• Holiday Travel with Young Kids
  Learn the secret to traveling with kids -- travel in the "kid zone."

• Making the Most of a Holiday Apart from Your Kids
  Can't be with your children this holiday season? You can get through it with a few simple tips.

• Preparing Kids for Holiday Visits
  You love to travel with your children, don't you? Make it less stressful for them and for you.

• Managing Children's Expectations: A Key To Happy Holidays
  It's up to you to manage your kid's expectations for the holiday season, leaving no one disappointed.

• Seasonal Stepfamily Stress: Tips to Help All Your Family Members Enjoy the Holidays
  You've got a lot to deal with two families, but you can make it work more smoothly.

• Holiday Baking: A Recipe for Family Fun or Frustration?
  Baking can be fun for kids if you keep some of these simply tips in mind.