Shopping for the perfect Christmas present and cooking the perfect dinner during the holiday season can put pressure on the most organized person.
However, for some people, that constant pressure turns into a little-known disease called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. The disorder which is also referred to as “Holiday Blues,” typically occurs between October and January and is related to psychological factors like increased family responsibilities, loneliness and financial position.
It is brought on by a lack of sunlight and it causes depression as the days get shorter and colder. It is estimated to affect 36 million Americans or about five percent of the population, most of whom are women between the ages of 20-40.
To help combat these statistics, Elisa English has put together a list of holiday tips to fight the “Holiday Blues.”
“There are some really quick things people can do,” said English, a mental health professional with a PhD in clinical social work. Her practice, the Provocative Doctor Experience in New York, deals with suicide and depression. She especially wants to empower young girls.
The 10 tips are:
1. Socialize—Alienation is “holiday blues’” best friend. Get out and enjoy life. Spend time with people you enjoy and doing things you don’t normally do.
2. Dispose Garbage—Simply remove and eliminate all toxicity. That includes toxic friends, relationships and situations.
3. Free—While you free yourself of toxicity, look for free things to do with your time in these hard economic times. No matter where you live there’s always something free going on.
4. Plan—Nothing offers hope better than a plan. Begin to journal your vision and detail your steps. This exercise will help you focus on you and your journey through life.
5. Self-Preserve—You can do little for anyone if you don’t take care of self. Schedule your mental and physical exam, exercise often and eat a balanced diet.
6. No Over Consumption—Nothing feels better than eating and drinking our way to happiness. This approach is also the fastest way to depression.
7. Laugh—Nothing relieves “holiday blues” like a simple smile or a good stomach-aching laugh. Take in a comedy show, watch comedy on TV or just come to the family function with a few jokes.
8. Adventure—If you’ve been thinking of swimming, hiking, belly dancing, kickboxing or any activity you dare you would never do–try it while you’re feeling blue.
9. Relationships—The power of an intimate, loving, self-fulfilling relationship is extraordinary and can do wonders for lifting “holiday blues.”
10. Seek Help—If your “holiday blues” lasts more than two weeks, seek professional advice. Signs are: sleeplessness or sleeping too much, a lack of appetite, inability to concentrate and feeling hopeless.
English said she came up with these tips through trial and error when she experienced the “holiday blues” in her own life.
“Right now I am trying to follow my own tips,” she laughed. “I am a work out buff. There have been times in my life when I felt that I couldn’t do it. I have learned that without vision there is no hope. I want people to realize that there is hope.”
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