Holiday Blues

Many people feel down or depressed during the holiday season.  The sadness comes from the stress of the holiday season:  fatigue due to increased holiday activity, financial strains, family tensions, memories of a deceased loved one or fragmented families,and relationship difficulties are just a few of the stresses. 

One of the main causes of holiday depression my be unrealistic expectations.  People remember holidays from years gone by and are unable to make that magic happen again.  There are also the expectations that we must attend all the events and do all the decorating and ”everything must be perfect”, which we all know is unobtainable. 

Learning to pace ourselves, doing something for someone else, breaking tasks down or having friends help, getting sleep and not overindulging in holiday drinking are the best ways to combat the holiday blues.

However, if the sadnesspersists or intensifies there is a need for immediate professional help.    Clinical depression affects 19 million American adults every year.  Unfortunately many people do not ask for help even though depression is a treatable mental illness.

Symptoms of Depression

Below is a list of symptoms of depression compiled by the National Institute of Mental Health.  If you experience 5 or more of these symptoms every day for two weeks you should seek professional help.  If you have recurring thought of death or suicide, you should get help immediately.

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or loss of pleasure in hobbies or activities you once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain