Spring Allergy Management - 4 Ways To Cope Emotionally With Spring Allergies

Spring is coming or depending on where you live, it may be in full bloom. But that's not necessarily good news if you're allergic to the things that will start to bloom around you.

You, on the other hand, are dreading the arrival of the season that brings itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion. Feeling left out can be just as hard as suffering with the physical symptoms. Here are 4 things to do that will help you look forward to spring too.

Celebrate Spring Somewhere Else-If you live in a city that is a hotbed for spring allergies because of the trees and flowers native to your town, you don't have to celebrate spring where you live. Stay ahead of spring and plan a trip north where it's still winter and not time for spring blossoms.

Get out of Dodge by taking a cruise when everything is in bloom where you live. If you time it right, when you return the worst of the season will be gone, and you will have had a great spring too. For a less costly trip, plan to use a friend or relative's home (who lives in a more allergy friendly location) as a base for sightseeing, shopping, and exploring a new town.

Form A Group--With over 10 million American suffering from allergies, there are sure to be a lot of people you know who share your situation.

A weekly book club, or lunch club can be done inside in a controlled environment and still allow you to look forward to socializing with others during the season. Talk with friends and neighbors about what you want to do, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how many others that you know have the same need.

Get Fit Indoors-Join a fitness center where you can run, swim, pump iron, and socialize with others who have fitness as a common goal. Use your time indoors to tone your muscles, build your endurance, and shed any extra pounds that have climbed aboard since the holidays. Come summer, you'll be the envy of all you meet when you put on your bathing suit and head for the beach.

Volunteer-Even though living through allergy season can literally be a pain, set aside time each week to turn the focus from your problems to those of others-and sadly, there are plenty of people who are less fortunate these days. Choose a charity where you can work indoors and volunteer for several hours a week.

Your job doesn't have to be complicated, it just has to feel a need. It can include things as easy as putting stamps on mail, serving meals for the homeless, or delivering food to those who are shut in. There are an unlimited number of opportunities for you to help in your community. (And there's another club idea-a volunteer club!Volunteering and helping those who are less fortunate is a sobering way to revisit all that you still can still be glad you have.