The Holidays and Your Health

Overcoming the Holiday Blues

Charles E. Taylor, MPH, MT (ASCP), Clinical Laboratory Scientist

The holidays are traditionally regarded as a wonderful time of the year, a time to reflect, commune, share happiness, give and receive good cheer, and enjoy life for the duration. It is also a time to establish optimistic hopes for the upcoming New Year. During the holiday season many are inundated with various reminders of the holidays, both past and present. It is these reminders that can also be a trigger that leads to many unresolved issues, relentless stress, and personal despair.

Contributing Factors of Holiday Blues

The holiday season is understood to be a very busy time that is
chock-full of events to participate in. There are more purchases to
make, excess travel and traffic, difficult parking situations, crowded
stores, and of course, long waiting times for purchasing amenities
associated with the holiday season. All of these are considered serious
contributing factors and set the stage for the “Holiday Blues.” All
these factors impose extra demands for our time, attention, energy and
finances. These additional demands have their own unique stress factor
associated with the impact of the demand. This unique stress is of
important consideration in regards to health and well being during the
holiday season.

We all have unique physiological, psychological, and emotional
mechanisms inherent to each and every one of us that we use to deal with
internal and external stresses. For some, the stress level during the
holidays surpasses the innate ability to cope and deal with each and
every ordeal that is confronted. Thus the foundation for the holiday
blues is established and the plethora of unpleasant feelings associated
with this disorder is manifested.

The greatest impact of the holiday blues for individuals may be in response to the following identified triggers:

• Past losses

• Anticipation of a personal or financial loss

• Unresolved grief and trauma

• Contrasting past and present experiences

• Disappointment with the present

• Contrasting holiday joy and present reality

• Isolation and loneliness

Reducing the Stress that Contributes to Holiday Blues

Assessing one’s response to holiday stress can lead to a feeling of
helplessness or victimization in an effort to cope and maintain.
However, you can accomplish meaningful planning towards reducing holiday
stress by exploring your personal view and approach to the holidays.

Research more meaningful ways of gift giving that are less demanding on
you, yet do not diminish the true value of your intent of participating
in exchanging gifts. This could include visiting a friend, preparing a
dish or dessert to share on this visit, or simply sending a nice
personalized Christmas card to those who are “dear but not exactly
near.”

Limit the number of people to exchange gifts with to a select few.
Remember, as the number of participants on your Christmas gift list
increases, so does the stress and anxiety of trying to purchase for each
and everyone. Not only is this endeavor difficult, it can also become
very time consuming.

If past losses are contributing to the holiday blues, it may be
necessary to accept the loss or the most devastating entity of the loss,
in order for the intensity of the associated bad feelings to subside as
well. Surround yourself with supportive friends or relatives.

Interact with friends, family, and colleagues to share holiday ideas
that are fun, manageable, feasible, and most of all meaningful to all
participants, yourself included.

“Easier said than done,” one might say. It may be difficult, and it does
require effort to challenge and face the impact of the loss. Consider
what relief strategy may be the most alleviating and manageable from a
personal perspective, implement that strategy, and always be mindful of
the fact that it is not very healthy to lose more than is necessary.

Have a wonderful holiday season and Best Wishes for a Blessed New Year in 2012!