Most people look forward to important annual events like Christmas. They can mean warm times spent with family and friends, enjoying food, rituals and gifts. However, depression is common during the holiday season. Depression, when it's not clinical, is usually caused during this time by overwork, financial stress and overly high expectations. However, it can be combatted with planning, simplifying and self-care.
Why Depression Hits
Every year it seems there is more pressure to get ready for the holidays. From Halloween onwards, ads everywhere tell people to buy buy buy. Unless one has unlimited time and money, such an overload can be quite simply overwhelming. Many people inevitably work too hard and spend too much money trying to create the perfect holiday. According to the Mental Health Guide, “more than any other time of year there is an emphasis on families.” While this can be a positive thing, it can also be a stressful one. Even if one has the ideal family, tensions or arguments can erupt as everyone tries to be on their best behaviour. If one is a solitary person, just being around one's relatives can lead to feelings of depression. This reaction is normal, but it can also be prevented.
Before Depression Hits
Try to avoid these feelings by planning priorities. One can't do everything. Decide what matters most. Sending cards to friends? Creating gifts for close family members? Cooking a delicious feast? Once one has prioritized, don't procrastinate. Make a list, select the best days to accomplish these tasks on and stick to it. If it can't be a priority this year, don't worry about it! Secondly, simplify. Pick a name out of the hat if one has a large family and just buy gifts for that one individual. Make presents rather than spending money on gifts that may be soon forgotten. If one racks up one's credit card, depression after the holidays will be much harder to prevent.
If Depression Hits
Even if one has planned and simplified, one might still face days of depression amid the festivities.Take it easy. If responsible for the dinner, delegate some cooking or cleaning duties to others. Don't overeat. Neither being over full nor packing on pounds will alleviate depression. Instead, eat small, regular amounts of healthy food. Exercise and alone time are the best ways to lift those depressed feelings. As hypnotherapist Tracy Bonczyk advises: “take a walk, listen to calming music, or meditate.” Even 15 minutes alone can make all the difference. Put Christmas and other such family holidays in perspective. Depression will then be fleeting.
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