It doesn’t get much recognition amongst the flurry of Christmas commercials, merry tunes, and bouncing lights, but in every town and city across North America it’s there: depression triggered in people by the holiday season. For many people, the time period that runs from Thanksgiving through to New Year’s Day is a hard one to emotionally endure. The holidays tend to magnify loss because they remind us of what we used to have — a spouse who is now deceased or a marriage now ended, for example.
Indeed the death of a loved one can spark the holiday blues, which can become very suffocating simply because so many other people are smiling and enjoying the season. It doesn’t even have to be death or fizzled marriages that cause depression to occur, as other factors can trigger a certain level of early-winter depression — factors such as fatigue, lack of sunlight, stress, troubled family relationships, and financial problems.
If you count yourself among those who suffer from the holiday blues, know that you are far from being alone. It happens to countless individuals who look back on the passing year and mentally evaluate it.
If things didn’t turn out the way they expected, or if some particularly negative events overshadow everything else, then it becomes pretty difficult to unwind and enjoy the holidays. It becomes the exact opposite, with symptoms such as sadness, tension, stress, sleeping problems, fatigue, and a lack of interest and motivation overtaking everything you do.
There are ways, however, to help yourself and it begins largely with making sure that you maintain healthy lifestyle patterns and that you not shut yourself out socially. Here are some tips for dealing with the holiday blues:
– Exercise each day. This is a proven depression fighter, and can do wonders for your mood if you let it.
– Don’t overeat. Excessive meals will make you feel worse.
– Watch your alcohol intake. Drink in moderation because spirits, wine, and beer are depressants.
– Maintain a healthy diet. Other than the big feasts, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as a flow of nutrients naturally benefits your mood.
– On sunny days, make sure you get outside. Get sunlight on your skin when you can.
– Don’t ignore social engagements; instead try to enjoy the company of others.
– Don’t overtax yourself. Make the holidays a time for rest and sleep.
– Try to stay positive. When you think of the year that ended, talk with someone about all the positive things that happened. We have a habit of dwelling on the negative.
– Be reasonable with your time. Plan ahead and set achievable goals during the holidays. Running around too much will only highlight the holiday blues.
– Refocus your thoughts. Easier said than done, but if you are constantly thinking of bad things (e.g. death of a loved one), then go to the movies, visit a friend, take a walk in the forest, or do any activity that occupies your mind.
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Tags: exercise, health tips
