The holidays have come to an end, and that means it’s time to take down the Christmas decorations and put away the Christmas cheer. Many people love Christmas season, and they get into it by decorating their houses.
Unfortunately, once the festivities end, and the Christmas lights go out, many people are hit with the holiday blues. Holiday blues are temporary feelings of sadness, anxiety of depression that typically occurs after the holidays. The symptoms can range from loneliness, anger, fatigue, headaches and tension.
There are many factors that are believed that contribute to the holiday blues. These factors include family gatherings, unrealistic expectations, shorter days and lack of sunlight, financial worries, stress, overcommercialization, missing loved ones and trauma or negative feelings from prior holidays.
The holiday season can be demanding with the decorating, visiting, gift buying and wrapping. Add this to the typically emotional aspect of the holidays and it can give any festivity lover the holiday blues.
It’s not just people who have past holiday trauma who could get hit with the holiday blues. Anyone, even people who love the holidays, are susceptible to getting them.
Research shows that people with prior mental health conditions may be more likely to experience the holiday blues. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of people with an existing mental illness report that they struggle more with the holiday blues.
People who are struggling with the holiday blues might also experience feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness or helplessness. They might suffer from low energy or have trouble sleeping.
They might begin to withdraw from family and friends. Even though the holidays are typically a time for family and friends to be close to each other, people suffering from the holiday blues could find ways to avoid family gatherings.
Another thing somebody suffering from the holiday blues might experience are thoughts of self-harm or suicide. These thoughts are not uncommon among people suffering from depression.
Even though the national average number of suicides is low around Christmas, the number skyrockets around New Year’s Day. Studies show that many people reflect on the prior year. Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, senior vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention attributed the spike in suicides around New Year’s Day to the “brokenpromise effect theory.” This phenomenon can develop from the “elevated sense of expectancy implicitly occasioned by either a positively valued event or the threshold of a new cycle.”
There are many ways to offset the holiday blues. One way could be something as simple as getting enough rest. People tend to lose sleep during the holidays.
This could be due to stress or wanting to spend as much time with loved ones who come in from out of town. Lack of sleep can cloud up the mind and cause irritability. It can also hinder the person’s ability to deal with everyday stress.
Eating fruits and vegetables, getting some exercise and going outside in the sun are ways of battling the holiday blues, as well. People can also limit their alcohol intake, have a heart-to-heart talk with a friend and stick to a normal routine as much as possible to battle the holiday blues. Other ways to do this can be to set a realistic budget and stick to it, set realistic goals, don’t label the season as a time to cure past problems, don’t be afraid to say no – it’s not a crime if one doesn’t attend the party, enjoy holiday-free activities and find time for yourself every day.
If the holidays get overwhelming, there is help. Please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.