Mental Monday: Beating The Holiday Blues

The holiday blues can get to any of us.

‘Tis the season for large family gatherings, spending more money than we should, eating more than we should, and driving ourselves crazy trying to be thankful, happy, and merry.

The “most wonderful time of the year” ain’t always that wonderful.

Holidays can often wreak havoc on our mental health as we try to live up to the emotional expectations and obligations of the holiday season. We are often stressed out and stretched too thin as we prepare for a time of peace and joy. The holiday season can easily take a toll on any of us, but for some people it can be a time filled with serious conflicts and emotions.

There are people that tend to be more prone to the holiday blues. People who have lost a loved one may be flooded with unresolved grief and painful memories of a once joyful time of year. For people with strained relationships with family members, this time of year can be filled with stress and conflict. Some people are not able to join their families for the holidays, which can bring on  feelings of guilt and loneliness. And for people and families that are struggling financially, stretching the wallet or debt even more can trigger feelings of shame and depression.

For many people, the next 6 weeks are often filled with anything but holiday cheer.

If you’re feeling stressed or anxious during the upcoming holidays, make the time to check in with yourself.  Putting on a happy face to “get through the holidays” isn’t doing anyone any favors, especially not for you. If this time of year is usually more stressful than festive, figure out what you need to do to alleviate that stress and make some changes.

Here are some great tips to beat the Holiday Blues from the Mayo Clinic: (continues…)