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Home
page > Articles > Beat
the Post Holiday Blues
Beat the
Post Holiday Blues
By Heather Brissette
The holidays are upon us, and for many
adults there isn't enough magic out there
to get us through an entire advent calendar
without feeling stressed, worn out, and plain
old blah!
The majority of us have spent countless hours
over the last few months making our lists
and checking them twice. Most of us are spending
a lot of money, eating too many sweets, and
entertaining one too many in-laws. And before
you can say "Fa La La La La," it will all
be over and we'll be back to ground zero
with another twelve months to prepare for
next season.
While we all may want to spend this time
being jolly, it isn't going to happen for
everyone. And for some, the real blues don't
even settle in until the weeks after the
holiday crush. These post holiday blahs are
a syndrome recognized and taken very seriously
by many health institutions, including the
Mayo Clinic and the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention.
Singing the Blues
These blahs, not much different than the
postpartum blues suffered by millions of
women after the birth of a child, are felt
by men and women alike and can range from
feeling a little sad to a full blown case
of depression, according to researchers at
the Mayo Clinic. So if the post holiday blues
are something that you've come to accept
as much as your aunt Gladys' fruit cake,
you can take a small measure of comfort in
the fact that you're not alone.
For most people, the blues come in moderation--the
inevitable letdown experienced once the decorations
have been packed away and the last of the
eggnog drained from the carton. The guests
have all gone home and there's little else
on your holiday "to-do" list than laundry,
laundry, and more laundry. But who has the
strength to even fold a pair of socks? With
all of the harried activity which accompanies
the holidays, it's only natural for our minds
and bodies to feel fatigued when the celebrations
are finally over. Even those of us who take
the holidays in stride, priding ourselves
on getting our shopping done early and on
budget, still feel our share of seasonal
stress and post holiday blahs.
Feeling SAD
In most regions of this country, the days
are very short this time of year--and when
it isn't dark, it's likely to be cold and
cloudy with a chance of snow. While snow
days are lots of fun if you're in the third
grade, they only make us adults consider
heading back to bed for the day. For some
people, particularly those who live in the
northern part of the country, the blues can
be brought about by something called seasonal
affective disorder (SAD), according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
which may be related to the lack of light
during the short winter days. Take heart
in the knowledge that after Dec. 21 the days
will begin getting longer.
See the Light
While you may rather deal with your blues
by crawling under a down comforter until
Groundhog Day, there are more realistic ways
of coping:
Plan ahead. While planning the holidays,
think of ways to minimize your stress.
Think about buying certain aspects of Christmas
dinner in the prepared section of the grocery
store or asking guests to bring their own
specialties to the table. For those with
big families, consider initiating a gift
swap instead of trying to find a special
little something for each person. And maybe
this isn't the year you will make a gingerbread
house from scratch--it's okay. Taking time
for solitude and relaxation will have a
much larger payoff in the end, so choose
a craft, like cutting paper snowflakes
with your children, that is less involved
but will still bring you into the holiday
spirit.
Make arrangements for January. Consider
distracting yourself with a volunteer cause.
If the distraction works, consider making
it a tradition-- something to look forward
to every year.
Erase debt. Spontaneous gift giving is a lot of fun--until
the bills come due. You can avoid the stress of trying to pay
off outrageous credit bills in January if you think carefully
before making a gift purchase. Think instead of giving gifts
of your time, like a double batch of homemade fudge for the
chocoholic on your list.
Watch what you eat. Overspending isn't the only overindulgence
that can trigger post holiday blues. Watch what you eat and
drink this season. Too much of either will likely bring on
feelings of guilt and defeat--especially if you spent months
ahead of time losing weight to fit into that sparkly little
dress you bought specifically to wow them at your office Christmas
party.
Start an exercise
program. Not only
will the exercise fend
off those extra pounds,
it will leave you feeling
refreshed and less tired.
And exercising outdoors
will give you a good
dose of blues-busting
sunlight.
Visit an old friend. Tired of playing
host or hostess? Take a few days and plan
a short trip yourself. Even a solo adventure
to a new city or favorite respite will
leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready
to take on the new year.
Be SAD. The CDC advises people suffering
from post holiday blues, whether because
of SAD or for other reasons, that it's
fine not to feel festive. Accept your inner
experience and don't force yourself to
have feelings that aren't there. It may
also be helpful, the center suggests, to
inform those around you of your feelings
and your needs.
Most often these blues
will pass on their own
in a few days or weeks;
however, some experts agree
that talking to a professional
counselor may be in order
for those people whose
ho-hums hang on. If you're
feeling like the clouds
will never lift, several
national resources are
available to help you through
the haze.
More information:
Depression Awareness, Recognition
and Treatment (D/ART) Program,
Mental Health Association
of Colorado: (303) 377-3040
or visit their website.
National Depression and
Manic-Depressive Association:
(800) 826-3632 or visit
the MDMDA website.
National Mental Health
Association (NMHA): (800)
433-5959 or visit the association's website.
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