Help For Holiday Depression

The holiday season is a time for family social gathering and holiday celebration. But for many people the holidays are a time of sadness grief loneliness stress anxiety and depression. You are not alone. 

The holiday season takes a toll. The results...Headaches insomnia stress and anxiety and more are the results. Gloomy weather cold temperatures and shorter daylight hours cause depression to increase. Many can relate to the pain due to changes in the atmospheric pressure and moisture. PAIN so bad you have trouble getting up in the morning. Add to that work of holiday festivities. And remember the food and the young lady with PCOS who so desperately tries to stick to stick to her plan.  Or the patient with diabetes. Pain anxiety and frustration are devastating. Dont forget seniors the most susceptible to holiday blues. Memories of happier times flood the mind. The mind remembers tradition and people that shared them. The elderly may find physical immobility mental impairment and increased pain preventing holiday celebration like years gone by. Memories can be devastating. Inability to function properly and perform activities of daily living brings frustration. A state of depression becomes common during the holiday season. But manageable because holiday festivities are all around. But please be aware. Suicidal thoughts and suicide increase after holiday festivities according to HCA. Allow me to share some reasons for holiday sadness…

·        Stress

·        Fatigue

·        Unrealistic expectations

·        Over-commercialization

·        Financial stress

·        Inability to be with family and friends

You are not alone. The hustle and bustle of the time between Thanks Giving and New Years is stressful and sometimes overwhelming.  Juggling holiday shopping parties family and friends with everyday obligations can feel impossible sometimes. Add to that the constant stream of holiday commercials. Consumer marketing brings more stress and fatigue. Sometimes you just want to scream "Enough already." You are not alone. Next week: suggestions to relieve holiday stress and depression. Need help now?  Suicide prevention hotline 1-800-273-8255

References:

1.      Holiday Depression and Stress, WebMD

2.      It Is Alright To Be Sad During the Holidays, Accepting sadness is healthier than denial & key to progress forward, Judith J Wurtman Ph.D., Psychology Today, Dec 19, 2015

3.      Holiday Blues and Older Adults, Laureate Way, Laureate Group