So many people go bonkers for the holidays. Between Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas shopping, Christmas tree decoration, gift wrapping, holiday office parties, ugly Christmas sweater contests, Hanukah, and holiday travel, it can be exciting for most but very stressful for others. “The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” by Andy Williams became the biggest Christmas single in history. We quote this song to this day, as Christmas is exactly what the song describes: full of cheer. Yet, not everyone feels this much joy during the holidays. This blog by Keshika Vasuja tells us what exactly is Holiday Depression. What if the holiday season is not the most wonderful time of the year for you? Maybe you are struggling with loneliness or are grieving a family member. Perhaps you are struggling financially and are not able to purchase gifts this year. It could be that being around family during the holidays is a trigger for your addiction or eating disorder. Other common triggers for holiday sadness include stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, and over-commercialization. Many individuals find the holidays intolerable for many reasons, especially if they suffer from “holiday depression.” Of course, you do not want to be the downer or the bah humbug of your friend or family circle, so how do you find common ground, if the holidays are not your cup of tea? The term holiday depression is used in mainstream society and is not recognized by mental health professionals. However, therapists do agree that depression and anxiety tend to heighten during the holiday season and this most likely why our society has coined this catchy phrase, holiday depression". The demands and stress of the holidays and the expectations to be happy can make an individual feel even more depressed, especially if he/she is already struggling with a mood disorder. Holiday depression is also known as “holiday blues,” and it can be experienced by anyone, including children and otherwise happy people who tend to get a little “down” at the holidays. People with an existing mental health condition may find the holidays particularly difficult. In fact, a study by the National Alliance on Mental Health revealed that 64% of people with a pre-existing mental health issue say the holidays make their symptoms worse. Holiday depression is different from seasonal affective disorder, which is depression brought on by lower levels of light during the cold, dark winter months. Though seasonal affective disorder and holiday depression are different conditions, they often co-occur and can exacerbate one another. The holidays can also be a trigger for individuals who struggle with seasonal depression, a class of depression that is recognized by mental health experts and physicians. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a seasonal depression that peaks in the winter months due to shorter days and decreased sunlight. Decreased levels of serotonin, increased levels of melatonin, low levels of vitamin D, and a disruption in circadian rhythms are known triggers of seasonal affective disorder. Individuals who live in colder, snowy areas and areas that are farther from the equator are more at risk for seasonal affective disorder. In fact, approximately 4-6% of the population experiences holiday depression and 10-20% of the people suffer seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The feelings of loneliness, anxiety, stress, and lack of motivation are common and can be overwhelming to deal with, especially during the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. 18 tips for coping with holiday stress and depression:
Works Cited:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201912/holiday-depression-and-the-most-wonderful-time-the-year https://www.webmd.com/depression/holiday-depression-stress#1 https://drpaulbythesea.com/dealing-with-holiday-depression/ https://jeffditzellpsychiatry.com/holiday-depression/
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Welcome to our blog, Medquity!Here we will post extra articles on health disparities to display the profound health inequities in our healthcare system. These are updated every other weekend, so check back regularly! Archives
July 2021
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