Holiday Blues

What are holiday blues?

The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of good cheer and optimistic hopes. Yet, it is not unusual for many of us to feel sad or lonely during the holiday period -- a condition that has come to be called holiday blues or holiday depression.
Holiday depression may occur at any holiday or vacation time, but most commonly happens during the December holidays when, it may seem, just about everyone in the world is celebrating in some way. There are many causes for holiday blues, and the symptoms may mimic clinical depression.

Causes: Many factors may contribute to the holiday blues:

• increased stress
• fatigue
• unrealistic expectations
• inability to be with family
• memories of past holiday celebrations
• over commercialization
• change in diet
• change in daily routines

Symptoms of the holiday blues may include:

• headaches
• inability to sleep or sleeping too much
• changes in appetite causing weight loss or gain
• agitation and anxiety
• excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• diminished ability to think clearly or concentrate
• decreased interest in activities that usually bring pleasure, such as:
• food
• sex
• work
• friends
• hobbies
• entertainment

While they may be intense and unsettling, holiday blues are usually short-lived, lasting for a few days to a few weeks prior to or just after the holiday. The good news is, holiday blues usually subside after the holiday season is over and daily routines are resumed.
There is a long list of recommended Do's and Don'ts for managing your holiday blues. The most important things to remember are: it's a normal response to a stress-filled time of the year, and you don't have to suffer unnecessarily. Find someone to talk with who can help you through this difficult time -- a family member, friend, member of the clergy, or a physician or professional counselor.

Do's and Don'ts to Manage Holiday Blues

The DO's of managing Holiday Blues:

Do follow the three basics for good health:     ...eat right...get plenty of rest...exercise regularly.
Do set realistic goals:      ...organize your time...make lists...prioritize....make a budget and follow it.
Do let go of the past and create new or different ways to celebrate.
Do allow yourself to feel sad, lonely or melancholy -- these are normal feelings, particularly at holiday times.
Do something for someone else.
Do enjoy activities that are free.
Do spend time with people who care about you.
Do spend time with new people or a different set of friends or family.
Do contact someone with whom you have lost touch.
Do give yourself a break -- plan to prepare (or buy) one special meal, purchase one special gift, and take in one special event. The rest can be ordinary, but will seem special because of the time of year and the people you're with.
Do treat yourself as a special holiday guest.

The DON'Ts of managing Holiday Blues

Don't drink too much alcohol.
Don't overindulge in holiday foods, especially those that are high in sugar and fat.
Don't have unrealistic expectations of yourself or others.
Don't dwell on the past.
Don't focus on what you don't have.
Don't spend money you don't have.
If symptoms persist beyond the holidays, it may be more than the holiday blues—it may be clinical depression.  If you experience ongoing symptoms, contact your primary care physician or a mental health professional.