The Holiday Blues
The holiday season may bring you joy, wonder, and even some cheer. The excitement of the holiday season is mostly felt by children. If you want to enjoy this special time of year like your child does or even like the time you were a child, changing, monitoring, and shifting your thinking may do the trick. However, the holiday season may not be a joyous time of year for everyone. The holiday blues are very common during this time. You may experience feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness that surround the holiday season. Holiday blues vary by individual. Some triggers include memories of lost loved ones, sense of longing to be with lost loved ones, familial/societal pressure, high expectations of how things “should” be and straining oneself financially or being unable to afford gifts. Common symptoms of the holiday blues include situational sadness, trouble concentrating, irritability, insomnia/hyper insomnia, change in appetite, loneliness, and loss of pleasure in activities. Symptoms typically pop up in November and last until the start of the new year.
Tips for coping with the holiday blues:
1. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do.
2. Pace yourself so that you don’t take on more than you can handle.
3. Set holiday goals that are achievable.
4. Remember to live in the now and make the most of every moment.
5. Make time for free (and stress free) holiday activities.
6. Try something different in this time around to keep things fresh.
7. Spend time with people who support and nourish you.
8. Honor what or who you are grieving.
It is important that you do not neglect self-care during this time of year. Do not be afraid to advocate for yourself and say no if it’s too much. Let go of what doesn’t work and watch out for unrealistic expectations. Do more of what you want and makes you happy. Do not be afraid to set firm boundaries and most importantly remember to be true to yourself – you deserve to enjoy the holiday season the way you want to.
