Help Holiday Stress and Depression

Help For The Holidays Part Two

Holiday season. Perfection. Non stop activity: Shopping for the perfect gift. Parties. Family gathering. Social obligations. Eating. Drinking. More Shopping. Santa pictures. Traveling. Delays. Delayed flights. But perfection for the holiday season expected. Television says so. TV tells us about Scrooge. And who wants a Scrooge. No one wants Scrooge. Hurry get that new gadget. Thanks Giving sale. Black Friday sale. Big Christmas sale.  Buy now. Financial stress.  Stress and Depression rise higher and higher.  Add to holiday stress. Routine disruption. Overeating. Increase drinking.  Lack of sleep. And don’t forget loneliness. The Elderly are victims and so are Veterans. Let me share ways to prevent holiday stress and depression according to Mayo Clinic…

1.      Acknowledge your feelings

2.      Reach out and make a difference for someone.

3.      Be realistic

4.      Set aside Differences

5.      Stick to a budget

6.      Plan ahead

7.      Learn to say no

8.      Don’t abandon healthy habits

9.      Take a breath

1.   Seek professional;l help if you need it

Take control. Lower back pain, Neck pain. Your health will suffer. Enjoy the holidays from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Years. Tell yourself you are in control. Remind yourself often. Take steps to prevent holiday stress. Holiday blues. Holiday depression. Recognize triggers. Positive thinking. You can do this!

There’s a disorder for holiday stress and depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255

P.S. Website available in Spanish and German.

References:

1.      7 Strategies for a Happy Holiday Season, Abigail Brenner M.D., Psychology Today

2.      Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for coping, Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic, Sept 16, 2017

3.      Holiday Depression & Stress, Mental Health America of Wisconsin

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