While many take in the holiday season with excitement and joy, many struggle through the holidays for one reason or another.

It could be the loss of a loved one or a general battle with anxiety and depression over the pressure of providing a great holiday experience for your family. Tony Kirkman is the Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center and on the WHOW Morning Show Monday, and told the Hart Media Group there are things we can do to find ourselves in a better place emotionally and mentally this holiday season.

For many, the self-imposed expectation of a perfect Christmas is not only unattainable, but it is often not the expectation of those around you. Kirkman reminds most people, the quote - perfect Christmas - is about the memory of being present with loved ones.

According to Kirkman, self-medicating to make it through the holidays is often a way of coping with an issue. He encourages getting to the bottom of what you're coping with and putting the work in to deal with it. 

Among other tips from Kirkman are to know what topics or activities create anxiety in you when you are around family and to have a way out of those circumstances. 

Visit piattmhc.org to learn more about the Piatt County Mental Health Center and talk to a professional.