Happy Holidays!

Or Are They??

 

When we think of the holiday season, for most, it is full of excitement and anticipation.  It’s a fun time of the year filled with parties, celebrations, and social gatherings with family and friends. But, there are just as many people, who find themselves filled with sadness, self-reflection, loneliness, and anxiety.  According to a survey conducted in 2014 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) approximately 24% of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse and 40% “somewhat” worse.”  Even those without any diagnosed conditions cand find the holidays to be stressful and anxiety ridden.

What causes holiday blues?

Sadness is actually a very personal emotion. What affects one person, isn’t going to be what makes someone else sad. Here are some of the typical sources of holiday sadness:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Unrealistic expectations
• Over-commercialization
• Financial stress
• The inability to be with one’s family and friends

Even people who have never displayed symptoms of depression, ir views themselves as usually having issues with it, may develop stress responses, such as:

• Headaches
• Excessive drinking
• Over-eating
• Insomnia

While others, may be ‘fine’ during the initial holidays but then may experience post-holiday sadness after New Year’s Day. This can result from built-up expectations and disappointments from the previous year, coupled with stress and fatigue.

Trying to balance the demands of holiday shopping, gathering and parties, family obligations, and house guests can also contribute to feelings of being overwhelmed and situations of increased tension.  

Here are a few tips for helping to maintain your emotional and physical well being during this next few weeks.

• Set realistic goals
• Have realistic expectations for yourself as well as others.
• Pace yourself. Take small breaks.  Set timers if you need to. BREATHE.
• Make lists and prioritize.  It will make activities and tasks more manageable.
• Know your limits. You know what you can and cannot do. Don’t push yourself beyond them.
• Do not put all of your energy into just ONE day. (i.e. Christmas Eve, Day, Or New Year’s).  Understand that the joy can be spread out over several days, and enjoyed in small increments.
• Be PRESENT.  Enjoy each moment instead of worrying what may or may not be happening next.
• Do not compare this holiday with others past.  Each has it’s own gifts to bring if you let them.
• Lonely?  How about volunteering?  There are plenty of others who are lonely as well and could use a helping hand.
• Holidays can be expensive, how about coming up with some free or close to free activities? Go looking at holiday lights/decorations in the neighborhoods, help and/or make your own decorations, window shopping /people watching,
• Limit your drinking, as excessive drinking increases feelings of depression.
• Try something new.  Celebrate in a new way, discover new traditions, and experiences.
• Spend time with people who are loving and supportive.
• Lighten the load!! Share the holiday tasks with others.
• Make time for yourself!! Everyone needs a little quiet time.
• Contact long lost friends, reach out and spend time with others.
• Keep track of holiday spending.   Overspending and little income can create a lot of  stress and depression issues when the bills come in after the holidays, so stick to your budget and save yourself some anguish!