It may be ironic but holidays, a time for fun, relaxation and socializing may be a time where some people tend to get depressed. The reasons are still unclear as to why holiday depression occurs but thankfully there are several ways to deal with.
Holiday depression syndrome during winter is commonly caused due to inadequate level of light. Being in low level of light for a considerable period of time may trigger symptoms of the disorder and make you feel down and in the dumps. This is also referred to as seasonal affective disorder.
Holiday depression is also common due to stress and nostalgia. Holidays can be hectic preparing gifts and getting ready to celebrate, ironic, but it does happen. It may also be a time when people get nostalgic thinking of the good times they used to have, perhaps after losing a loved one or moving to a new city.
If your disorder is in the winter times, light therapy should be your first move. Light therapy is a simple remedy that can be exercised at home. Simply add more lights and brighten up the place. Get rid of the curtains and buy yourself a light box. Sit in front of it whenever you are free throughout the day.
Stress is a primary cause for holiday depression as aforementioned. Take a step back and think for a minute. Are you taxing yourself too much? Do you feel you’re constantly worried and on edge? Do you feel you have no time? If this is the case, it’s time to breathe a little. Perhaps cancel some plans or get someone to help. This can instantly work wonders with your depressed state. You may feel obliged to throw a big party and make everyone happy but if it’s going to put your mental and physiological health at stake you need to think twice. The best option would be to get acquaintances and family members to help out. Considering the holiday spirit, they should be happy to lend a hand.
Another common scenario is feeling depressed after holidays. After holiday depression is a common occurrence. This particularly occurs for people who really enjoyed the holiday season and dread going back to their usual routine. Depression after holidays is usually very temporary and passes with time. Your mindset can really come into play as you brush those feelings off and get back to work.