Be wary of a potential misstep concealed within the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, which stretches from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Year's Day.
Like Alice, who realized too late she was plummeting down the rabbit hole, you might find yourself unwittingly falling into the dark hole called the "holiday blues."
If so, you're likely to feel paradoxical anguish instead of the usual good cheer. It's a temporary, usually milder form of depression.
Some people may be more susceptible to this frustrating condition than others, but there are ways to help ward it off.
It's important to realize you're not alone. Though they may not talk about it, many other people also experience similar unwelcome feelings of sadness, alienation, and being overwhelmed.
The holiday blues can mimic clinical depression or seasonal affective disorder.
Seasonal affective disorder (or SAD, aptly enough) is a type of depression that appears to be associated with light deprivation. It can recur each fall and winter during the year's shortest and darkest days.
Compared to the blues, the symptoms of clinical depression can be more debilitating and can extend past the holidays.
The "holiday blues" is just as real as clinical depression. Things that may help bring on the condition include:
¢ Conflicting family expectations and demands that create guilt and resentment.
¢ Separation from loved ones because of distance, illness, or death.
¢ Wishing to recapture feelings (real or fantasized) associated with past holidays.
¢ Unrealistic expectations of friends, family, job, or church to participate in seasonal festivities beyond the normal routine.
¢ Financial pressures of the holidays, including the purchase of gifts, clothes or party items.
¢ Fatigue from additional stress.
Here are ways to help cope with the holiday blues:
¢ Realize that the stress and pressures of the holidays are real, and will soon pass.
¢ Allow yourself to feel temporarily blue, but try not to fall into a rut.
¢ Don't isolate yourself. Acknowledge that you may need more support from friends and family during this time.
¢ Be moderate in daily activities, including socializing, eating, drinking, and shopping.
¢ Weigh priorities to protect your health.
¢ Continue participating in activities that bring pleasure, such as reading or music.
¢ Volunteer to do something to help others.
If the "blues" don't fade away with time as expected, it's a good idea to seek professional help.
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