on the fifth day of christmas...
- lxrynwxtring
- Dec 18, 2022
- 3 min read
12/18/22
on the fifth day of blogmas, bravebutsoft gave to me...
HOLIDAY BLUES!
(no, not really, just learning about what they are and how to get through them)
so what are holiday blues?
according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), holiday blues are known as "temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holidays that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations, or even memories that accompany the season."
this isn't to be confused with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). holiday blues are temporary, mostly surrounding the holiday season. SAD is a longer, drawn out condition.
even though holiday blues are temporary, they are still a very serious matter. temporary feelings can still bring up big feelings and emotions that may cause long-term effects.
how might holiday blues appear?
holiday blues can have many faces, here are some identifiers:
fatigue
tension
frustration
loneliness
isolation
sadness
a sense of loss
but why do holiday blues happen?
the holidays, as we have been discussing, are usually a time of chaos with little to no breaks. a lot of us find ourselves overwhelmed with no time to even think about taking care of ourselves. there are things that can sometimes cause us to have feelings of temporary depression or anxiety...
triggers of holiday blues:
less sunlight
changes in diet
changes in routine
alcohol intake
inability to be with family or friends
what steps can you take to avoid holiday blues?
NAMI provides us with a list of things we can do to help hopefully alleviate some of the feelings that comes with holiday blues...
stick to as normal of a routine as possible
i know you might be thinking "how is that possible with so much going on?" but routines are so helpful to mental health. not only do routines help your mental health, they create a structure that helps your physical and emotional health as well.
get enough sleep
sleep is essential to life. knowing the proper amount of sleep you should be getting each night will help you ensure that your mental health is on track. during sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function as well as maintain your physical health. it may not physically bother you now, but not getting enough sleep will cause long-term health problems.
take time for yourself, but don't isolate.
if i've stressed it once, i've stressed it a thousand times: SELF CARE IS NECESSARY. taking time for self-care isn't selfish. self-care is helping you be able to help others. find quiet time for yourself, but don't loose yourself there. find your people that understand you may need time alone, but that support you and spend time with you whenever you're done with that alone time.
eat and drink in moderation
everything in moderation. too much of anything is a bad idea. try not to over-eat, take your time and let your food digest. if you are feeling down, don't consume alcohol. alcohol is a depressant, meaning it lowers your neurotransmitter levels which reduces stimulation. alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
get exercise
even if it's a short walk or 10-minute Youtube video, anything is better than nothing. exercise has residual effects that will make you feel better afterwards. exercise releases chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin that help to improve mood.
make a to-do list
this doesn't have to be anything extravagant. simple to-do lists are more helpful than extensive ones anyways. simple things that will make you feel like you are accomplishing goals is a great way to boost your mental health.
set reasonable expectations
i know that the holidays only happen once a year, but that doesn't mean you have to overextend yourself and attend absolutely every holiday function. if you are tired, rest. if you aren't feeling well, stay home. if you don't want to go, DON'T GO! prioritize yourself and your mental health.
set a budget for holiday activities
i know that we all probably have one million people that we want to buy for, but sometimes that isn't possible. we need to normalize that we all aren't millionaries and made of money. normalize homemade gifts, inexpensive gifts, small business gifts, etc. christmas is a time of giving and gifting, but don't gift so much that you don't have anything left for necessities.
find ways to relax
just like self-care, finding time to relax and rest is essential to your mental health. if you don't find time to relax, you will be dealing with the side-effects. remember, you do not have to earn rest, rest is something that each individual needs in order to be happy and healthy.
remember: holiday blues are a temporary feeling. they will not last forever. if they are seeming to not go away, you may be affected by seasonal depression, general anxiety disorder, or other mental illness that you would want a diagnosis for.
take things week by week. day by day, or even hour by hour.
you will make it through!
remember you deserve to be here
xx Loryn
Comments