Losing the Holiday Blues
The holiday season can be a time of joy, happiness, and family get-togethers. But for some, it is a time of loneliness and anxiety about the future.
Why do I have the holiday blues?
Many things can cause the holiday blues. It could be stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, money problems, or being unable to be with one's family and friends. For many, the holidays bring back old memories of friends and loved ones who are no longer present. The demands of shopping and family reunions can also lead to feelings of tension.
Some people develop stress symptoms such as headaches, excessive drinking, overeating, and problems sleeping. There is also the postholiday let down after January 1st. This is common after such intense activity for so many weeks. It may also result from disappointments during the holidays, added to the excess fatigue and stress.
Here's one way to see if you are depressed.
You may be wondering if you have symptoms of depression. One way of determining that is to take a brief screening online or with your doctor. Only you will see the results of an online screening. You can then choose to print a copy of the results for your own records or to give to your physician or a mental health professional. If you choose to do a screening with your physician, he or she can assist you in determining a treatment plan.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Losing the holiday blues. Retrieved April 7, 2017, from https://www.va.gov/