The New York Times It s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Holiday Social Anxiety Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 14 December 2021 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles The New York Times It s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Holiday Social Anxiety It's common to be nervous before coming into a social setting, but disproportionate anxiety may be a sign there's a problem, says Cedars-Sinai psychiatrist Itai Danovitch, MD. Photo by Getty Images. The New York Times recently spoke with psychiatrist Itai Danovitch, MD, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai, about strategies for dealing with social anxiety while navigating holiday gatherings this year. As COVID-19-related restrictions loosen and vaccination rates climb, holiday celebrations are making a comeback this season. But many people feel out of practice after a year without large get-togethers. That discomfort is to be expected, according to the Times, which recommended coping strategies such as committing to fewer holiday events, taking breaks during gatherings, and planning to call a friend afterward to de-brief. Other coping mechanisms suggested by Danovitch include taking time before an event to think over areas of concern, which will vary from person to person, and speaking with the event's host about those concerns early on. Having a conversation ahead of time can help determine whether or not each gathering will be a good fit. Danovitch told the Times that it is common to be nervous before coming into a social setting, "but if you find that your anxiety is distressing and disproportionate and interferes with your daily living, and is preventing you from doing things that you would otherwise be doing, then that impact on function is an indicator that there's a problem." Anxiety that is persistent and recurs in multiple settings is a possible sign of anxiety disorder and should be evaluated by a medical professional, Danovitch said. Click here to read the complete article from The New York Times. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release The New York Times It s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Holiday Social Anxiety Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home