#21 - BEATING THE HOLIDAY BLUES

The Healthy Rotarian – “Beating the Holiday Blues”

For many, the holiday season brings happiness, but for others, it can lead to depression. In fact, a lot of people suffer from the holiday blues. “People have so much on their agendas, so many feel overwhelmed, sad, and disappointed,” says Dr. Harold Koenigsberg of Hope For Depression Research Foundation. Aside from the stress of schedules, families and expectations, it could also be an expectation for themselves. 

There is a tremendous amount of pressure and people often feel changes related to the time of the  year.  As the days get shorter and as the beginning of the day gets later in the day, that changes people’s biological rhythms and biological clocks and can make people feel more blue. People feel in a less positive mood as the days get shorter. 

What can we do to help ease the blues?   Get outside exposed to more bright light. Even an extra hour of exposure to bright light 3 to 4 days a week, early in the morning, can raise your mood. Exercising will also raise your spirits. Getting a workout  or walking 3 to 4 times a week can make a tremendous difference. If you have a pet, just spending time with that animal can help.

And try to surround yourself with positive people; maybe even volunteer which helps you connect with others in a meaningful way. And set realistic expectations. People expect everything at the holidays to be perfect, and relationships and plans rarely are, so do not be so hard on yourself.

Now if the depression continues or if you think it may be more than just a seasonal  issue, you should contact a professional for help. It’s more than winter blues when you are depressed pretty much all day long, almost every day for two weeks in a row or longer and you just can’t experience pleasure from anything. Your sleep and your appetite are all messed up too. For more Information about depression or the seasonal blues, you can go to http://hopefordepression.org.

Nurse Sipple