During The Chinese New Year season, we meet our family, relatives and friends during house visiting. 

While most people look forward to the festivities and gatherings, but others may find having to face relatives and their incessant questioning particularly stressful. Some questions include, ‘When are you getting married?’, ‘Do you have a partner?’, ‘When are you having kids?’, ‘Have you applied for a flat?’, and so on, leaving some people confounded and gasping.

Photo: Flickr / Bernard Wee

For instance, couples who are already trying for a family, this added external pressure results in problems such as relationship stress, medical problems and psychological stress.

But what can people do to manage such stress?

DR. Grace Huang, from DR. Tan & Partners (DTAP) Clinic Robertson, a general practice clinic with a special interest in men’s and women’s health and sexual health, shares her tips.

According to DR. Huang, by taking control of yourself you can minimise such unnecessary stress. Even if it does not feel easy, take care of yourself, by getting sufficient sleep the previous night. Exercising in between house visits also helps to calm the body down.

Also, try and snack less on those Chinese New Year goodies, because excessive snacking can put added stress on the body, making you feel even worse.

If a conversation is becoming particularly stressful, DR. Huang suggests to take a breather, be it by excusing yourself to get water or to go to the washroom. This will help you to gather your thoughts together.

For couples, DR. Huang suggests to talk over the issue together in advance, to prepare for the incessant questioning and provide palatable answers for everyone. Open communication to your other half can reduce such feelings of stress.

Sometimes, it helps to see a professional counsellor to talk over things with, or if the pressure comes to a point where medical issues such as erectile dysfunction are surfacing, DR. Huang urges those affected, to consult a doctor for treatment.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Chinese New Year should be a time of happiness and togetherness, not to just appease our relatives and friends, but also to look after our own health and sanity. It should not be the cause of added emotional and psychological stress and strain.

This article has been brought to you by DTAP Clinic.