Avoiding the Holiday blues
The holidays are a time full of “laughter and cheer” right? Well, even though that may be the case for many of santa’s little helpers, there are also people who find themselves feeling depressed, sad, lonely, or just plain “blue”. The holiday season is also a busier and more stressful time. We have more things to do, more things to buy, there is more traffic, parking is more difficult, stores are crowded and we wait longer. The extra demands on our time, attention, energy and finances can be very stressful, and for some, this brings on the “holiday blues.” Even though most people are looking forward to the holidays with anticipation, happiness, friendliness, fellowship, and peace, there are also those who may be feeling real symptoms of depression including: headaches, insomnia, anxiety, intestinal problems, uneasiness, and/or sadness.
Although different things may bring on the holiday blues for different people, some people may begin to feel down because of the stressfulness of holiday events. And, with every holiday event, there is often overdrinking, overeating, and fatigue, which can contribute to the holiday blues as well. The demands of the holidays are many as well: shopping, cooking, travel, houseguests, family reunions, office parties, more shopping and extra financial burden and stress. All of these factors can lead to holiday blues.
A few ideas to help avoid the holiday blues, and to make the holidays brighter include: deciding on what’s most important to you during the holidays and not letting other things get in the way of those plans, and being reasonable with your schedule. Many run about and fret and worry about being at every gathering, program, or party. This can cause undue worry or stress and can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and wanting to just “give up”. Also, trying to meet the expectations of others in your life can also cause holiday blues. Keeping the holidays simpler will aid in bringing the stress and overwhelming feelings down.
Some people may feel the holiday blues because they don’t have much going on or they are far away from friends or family. Be proactive! Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen; invite others to attend a free concert. There are so many opportunities for doing community service. It’s difficult to be depressed when doing community service.
Also, some adults tend to wish that their holidays were the same now as they were when they were children. Don’t expect the holidays to be just as they were when you were a child. They NEVER are. YOU are not the same as when you were a child, and no one else in your life or family is the same either.
Importantly, if you drink, do not let the holidays become a reason for over-indulging and hang-overs. This can, and most likely will, exacerbate your depression and anxiety. Contrary to popular opinion, alcohol is a depressant. It may seem fun at the party but know that you are in for some major holiday blues later. So, choose wisely when it comes to alcohol during the holidays.
Last, make time for yourself. Some people are so busy giving to others that they forget to take care of themselves. Often moms fall into this category. Remember, if you do the things you need to do to take care of yourself (aerobic exercise, yoga, massage, spiritual practices, sleep, long walks, etc.) your holiday blues and anxiety will lessen and those you are serving will feel your love even more.
Avoiding the holiday blues can prove tough: for some, there are constant triggers everywhere of anxiety and depression. But choosing to be proactive and make decisions about how you will spend your time right now, can help the rest of the holidays go more smoothly and can bring more peace and more light instead of the dark holiday blues.