William Penn Life, 2007 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2007-12-01 / 12. szám
HealthPage Mal<ing merry Ways to help you avoid having a 'blue Christmas’ The holiday season can be a time full of joy, cheer, parties and family gatherings. But for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and anxiety about an uncertain future. What Causes Holiday Blues? Many factors can cause the "holiday blues": stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints and the inability to be with one's family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after Jan. 1. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress. Coping with Stress & Depression During the Holidays • Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities. • Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don't put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Christmas Day). Remember that it's a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment. • Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them. • Leave "yesteryear" in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don't set yourself up in comparing today with the "good ol' days." • Do something for someone else. Try volunteering some of your time to help others. • Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowperson with children. Health Links For more information on holiday depression and how you can cope with it, please contact your local Mental Health America affiliate. You can find the nearest affiliate by logging onto MHA’s website at: O www.mentalhealthamerica.net and clicking on the “Affiliate Network” tab. • Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression. • Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way. • Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven't heard from in a while. • Save time for yourself! Recharge your batteries! Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities. Can Environment Be a Factor? Studies show that some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which results from being exposed to fewer hours of sunlight as the days grow shorter during the winter months. SAD affects half a million people every winter between September and April, peaking in December, January, and February. The "Winter Blues," a milder form of SAD, may affect even more people. Phototherapy, a treatment involving a few hours of exposure to intense light, is shown to be effective in relieving depressive symptoms in patients with SAD. Other studies on the benefits of phototherapy found that exposure to early morning sunlight can be effective in relieving seasonal depression. Recent findings, however, suggest that patients respond equally well to phototherapy when it is scheduled in the early afternoon. This has practical applications for antidepressant treatment because it allows the use of phototherapy in the workplace as well as the home. (c) 2007. Copyrighted and published by Mental Health America. No part of this document may be reproduced without written consent. 6 William Penn Life, December 2007
