 | Jeffrey Burch, PsyD completed his doctorate at the University of Indianapolis in the field of Clinical Psychology. During his clinical training, he received experience working on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit, drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit and outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program. Prior to coming to Via Christi Behavioral Health, Dr. Burch worked in community mental health. His clinical interests include substance abuse, psychotic disorders, panic disorders, Asperger’s Disorder, and projective testing. Dr. Burch provides individual, family and group psychotherapy along with conducting psychological assessments. He can also provide Christian counseling upon request. |
Health & Wellness
2011-12-27 14:59:48
“Holiday blues”
A: The holiday blues is a general term used to describe how people can become sad or depressed during the winter or holiday season. Sometimes these “holiday blues” become an actual disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder is most commonly associated with people suffering from depression during the winter. Some studies indicate that nearly one out of 10 people will meet criteria for this disorder during their lifetime.
Q: What causes people to feel depressed this time of year?
A: Seasonal depression during the winter can be due to a number of factors including: the decrease in sunlight during the winter months, the colder temperatures that can keep people indoors and some of the stresses associated with the holidays. People can get stressed out during the holidays trying to pay for gifts that they cannot afford due to not having the money, especially during these economic times. Another factor that can lead to holiday blues is family get-togethers when the person does not particularly enjoy the time around family. Recent losses are another stressor that shows up during the holidays as often this could be the first get-together since losing a family member. Many people also have negative memories from the holidays involving being hurt or simply being reminded that they do not have the pleasant memories that many people talk about or share.
Q: What are warning signs I’m suffering from the “holiday blues?”
A: Some signs that you might be suffering from the holiday blues include feeling more fatigued or tired than usual, feeling more stress than usual (this is usually experienced through headaches and tense muscles), sleeping more and/or wanting to sleep all the time, eating more food for comfort or to ease stress, stronger desire to consume alcoholic beverages or other substances, feeling more irritable, and getting upset when people seem to be enjoying the season. These are just a few signs as they vary for each person but tend to be things to look for in somebody suffering from the holiday blues.
Q: How can I prevent feeling this way and what are some ways to cope with these feelings?
A: Fortunately there are many things that you can do to help cope with the holiday blues. One thing that you can do is to prioritize your commitments. This can keep you from wearing yourself down by having to be at too many different places at once and never feeling like you have to time to relax and actually enjoy the holidays. Taking the time to relax and also to rest/sleep will allow you to have the energy to handle some of the stress that is thrown at you during this time of year. Exercising can also help you have more energy and can help you feel better about yourself as well.
Prioritizing can also make the tasks that you have to complete this time of year more manageable. Many times people become overwhelmed when they feel that there is no way that they can get done all the things they have to do as they feel that they all need to be done immediately. A common response to this is to not do anything at all. A better way of handling this is to make a list and see what needs to be done immediately and what can wait. Sometimes just making a list can help, and this is the time of year for making lists and checking them twice after all. Marking things off lists can reduce stress immensely.
Sometimes it is important to just take a break from all the things that have to be done and places that you have to be. This can be done by going to a movie, reading a book or just driving around and looking at all the Christmas lights. What you focus on tends to lead to how you feel. Make sure that you let some of those positive thoughts get in there as those tend to lead to feeling better. Remember that during this time of year to focus on the true meaning for the season and to be thankful for the great gift that we have all received.
