12-16-08

Holiday Blues

The holiday season can be a stressful and even sad time for some people, which may be caused by unrealistic expectations.

Some people experience the “holiday blues” during this time of year.  This feeling of being “let down” is fairly common, says Dr. David Resch, associate professor of medicine and psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  He explains the blue feeling.

SOUND BITE:  “It can be as severe as depression.  Other times it relates to their expectations for what the holiday should be.  Whether it’s gifts that they wanted to give or think they should have given, the way a family event might have transpired or they hoped it would transpire, family traditions that were or were not honored, or even loss of a loved one at this time of year can be a very stressful for people and make them feel more down or blue.”

Dr. Resch says holiday blues can be a combination of things – bad weather, shortened daylight hours, financial stresses, lack of sleep, and for some people, not having much family to share activities.  He advises people to modify their holiday expectations, relax and not expect everything to be perfect.   He suggests some tips for people who experience these feelings.

SOUND BITE: “A lot of times, part of it is planning and anticipation, so if you know there is going to be family events and stresses, planning what to expect and how to do it – the old Santa Claus adage of checking your list once and checking it twice – is a good way to look at it and try and plan ahead for that including budgeting what you can or can’t afford this year, even if it includes the meal itself or gifts you want to give.”

Dr. Resch says the blue feeling should last only a few weeks, but it could develop into a more serious condition if these symptoms continue.  For serious depression, he recommends seeing a family doctor or mental health counselor for an evaluation and possible treatment.

This is Ruth Slottag, at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.