By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

COMMON SENSE STRATEGIES CAN HELP OVERCOME THOSE “HOLIDAY BLUES”

Question: It’s holiday time again and the closer Christmas gets, the sadder I feel. This seems to happen almost every year. I do a pretty good job of hiding my feelings from my family, but is there anything I can do to keep this from happening?

Answer: Many people experience sadness during the winter holidays. This can start as early as Thanksgiving and continue through Christmas and New Years. These “Holiday Blues” can be due to a number of factors. This is a very busy time of the year, with holiday preparations on top of already busy schedules. It can be an expensive time of the year, and many people are sad because they “wish they had more” to share with others. Family expectations to travel and be together for the holidays adds stress as well.

Depression is just one of the many responses to the increased stress of the holiday season. Some people overeat. Some drink in excess. Some become “ill” with headaches. While still others are so “keyed up” that they have trouble falling asleep.

The way we deal with the pressure and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season varies greatly from person to person. Keeping that in mind, here are a few common sense strategies for coping with the Holiday Blues:

• Pace yourself. One person can only do so much. Decide what is best for you and your family and don’t overextend yourself.
• Be Realistic. You only have so much money and so much time. Set reasonable expectations for gift giving and partying.
• Allow yourself some time to “be sad” and to reflect on the past. The holidays are time when we miss loved ones who are no longer here on earth or who are in far away places. Think about these loved ones, carry them in your heart, and enjoy your time with the people who are actually in your presence.
• Volunteer your time. Help collect or deliver gifts for needy families. Or offer to work in a soup kitchen and help serve the holiday meal.
• Spend time with positive people. Seek out your friends who are upbeat and have the ability to make you laugh. This may give you the opportunity to contact old friends and catch up with what’s happening in their lives.
• Take care of yourself. Remember to do some things just for you. Go look at the holiday lights in a favorite neighborhood. Engage in your favorite hobby. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy the holidays.

Keep in mind that not everyone who feels sad in the winter has the Holiday Blues. Some people become depressed because of the decrease in sunlight hours. If your sad feeling persists into Valentine’s Day, you should contact your family doctor about possibly having a condition called “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” or SAD. Fortunately, there are very good treatments for this and other more serious forms of depression.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnosis and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at http://www.FamilyMedicineNews.org.