Coping with the Holiday Blues- Text of Article I Wrote for Training Inst. for Mental Health Newsletter

              Coping with 

       “The Holiday Blues”

This is not always the  “season to be jolly” for a lot of people.

What are the Holiday Blues?One source says:

The Holidays Blues are defined as "a feeling of sadness, loneliness, depression and even anxiety that often occur in and around the holiday season."

There are many reasons for this, and some people who are depressed already or prone to depression will more easily get worse if stressors arise over the holiday season.

The current economic climate is making a lot of people more nervous and depressed and the worries people have about keeping their jobs ( or looking for one) and paying bills of course will contribute to the Holiday Blues.

Some people will have suicidal thoughts but these are more typical of the period after the holidays and often reflect increased feelings of loneliness after holiday socializing. Some people think the period when people become most depressed varies from culture to culture.

Women are more likely to seek help for depression than men are, and if suicidal thoughts and actions become involved, men are more likely to turn to violent solutions.

Some of the basic ways to cope with anxiety and depression around the holidays:

1) Seek out help from others-- professional or faith based or just from friends

2) Avoid isolating yourself

3) Find activities you like

4) Do something for others-- this is a good time for volunteer work

5) Don't expect too much from yourself, particularly if you are having a hard time because of financial reasons or health reasons.

Then there is also “Seasonal Affect Disorder” which is commonly viewed as being a response to the lack of sunlight around the winter solistice.

Some people use “light boxes” to get more of the effect of being in natural sunlight.

Popular culture reflects this idea-- having “sunny” thoughts means being cheerful, etc.

Finally, anyone who is going through a crisis of any kind will probably find the holiday season makes the situation more difficult. People's misery is often increased if they feel they are alone in their misery while everyone else is joyous about the holidays.