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Are you single, and suffer from anxiety, depression and insomnia? Are you also experiencing seasonal digestive and immune disorders? If it is the most wonderful time of the year, these may be symptoms of a severe case of holiday stress.

But look no further! We have the help you need.

No we are not doctors, or a match-making service, but we will list a few tips to avoid stress and remain your best during this holiday season as a single girl.

Popular culture makes us believe that married women have significantly higher levels of stress that come with a committed life and family responsibilities. However, truth be told, studies indicate that women who never marry are at least five percent more likely to be stressed than married women, as they lack the mental and physical health boost that a satisfied married life provides.

Hosting a holiday dinner for friends and family all by yourself? Invest in cleaning services or rental dishes. While being single means no second income coming in, it also means more disposable income you can spend on yourself. Hire a server to keep the delicious food coming, or a bartender to keep the drinks flowing. This enables you to mix and mingle with the guests at your own party instead of being consumed with kitchen chores. Find an inexpensive deal on LiveSocial or Groupon on cleaning services, and you can evade the headache that is cleaning up after a party.

Or why not skip big stressful family dinners altogether? Get out of town for a fun trip, and what better than doing a singles' holiday excursion? Take a single's cruise to Hawaii during Christmas time, or an age specific New Year's eve party cruise to ring in the new year with like-minded individuals. This also gives you ample chance to meet someone new and start afresh.

Being single also means you need to brace yourself for a barrage of "why-are-you-still-single" questions by family members of all ages, who may honestly wish well for you, albeit in a condescending way that ruins an otherwise great dinner party. Oprah Winfrey's website gives us some witty comebacks for such painful moments:

- Biological clocks now come with a helpful snooze alarm so I can hold out for the right partner.
- I am still single because my parents-in-law decided not to have children

Read more at http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Help-for-the-Single-Girl-at-the-Holidays

If singlehood amidst happy families and couples celebrating holidays is pulling you down, doing charity work is bound to uplift your spirits. Request your local post office to provide you some letters addressed to Santa, and perhaps anonymously respond by fulfilling the small wishes in those letters you can afford. Volunteering at soup kitchens and shelters is another great option to spend quality time with those in need, and will help you gain a new perspective in life.

Immerse yourself in a great book. A great way to spend an evening by yourself is on your favourite couch in front of the fireplace, or by the window where you can lose yourself in the heavenly white snow that beautifully covers rooftops and trees. A cup of hot chocolate is always a plus. And let's not say no to whipped cream on it either.

And of course, going to a spa is a no-brainer. When holiday stress becomes unbearable, go on a spa retreat with a friend. Soothe your mind, body and soul with a hot stone massage, relax in a mud wrap, rejuvenate with a full body scrub, and let yoga help you meditate and ruminate. Spend this holiday season giving yourself a much needed "me time", surrounded by serene nature, scented candles, and masseurs that are hopefully very easy on the eyes.

Remember, you don't need to be or do perfect to feel merry. Holidays are a time of celebration, so celebrate yourself before celebrating anything or anyone else!

Happy Holidays!

BY: FARAH KHAN / POSTED DECEMBER 8, 2011