Page 102 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2019

HEALTHY LIVING
not-so-happy holidays
BEATING
Holiday
When we think of the holiday season, many have a feeling of excitement and look
during the holidays, it will be easy to notice that we are feeling down. However, if the holidays usually bring stress and sadness, the most important thing we
story by Angela Fields photo courtesy of Gulfport Behavoiral Health System
ANGELA FIELDS, Clinical Director Gulfport Behavioral Health System
Gulfport Behavioral Health System 11150 U.S. Highway 49 North, Gulfport 1.888.420.5144 www.gulfportbehavioral.com
forward to what the season means to us: fond memories, parties, lots of happy occasions. However, there are many
out there who may actually dread the holidays.
For a lot of us, the holidays aren’t always cheerful. They can bring back bad memories of holidays past or remind us of those we no longer have with us. Living far from family and not having anyone
to gather or celebrate with can bring on a sense of intense loneliness.
Holiday blues may be a temporary experience based on the time of the
year, but it could be something more serious and develop into a depression. Depression typically comes on in a gradual, progressive manner. It may begin with feelings of sluggishness, feeling tired for no reason, loss of interest in things we normally enjoy, have trouble sleeping, or our appetite dwindles.
Our loved ones or those around us may notice that we decline invitations to go places or do things we normally were eager to participate in. They may notice less contact with them or staying to ourselves more. We may stop taking care of ourselves – not showering as often, not brushing our hair, or wearing the same clothes for days at a time.
So, how do we prevent the holiday blues? If we know we usually are happy
can do is prepare. Before we can prevent something from happening, we need to be able to recognize when it starts and prepare emotionally for what we may encounter.
One of the first things we can do is concentrate on self-care. In a time filled with focus on giving, it’s okay to think
of ourselves. Get a massage, start a yoga class, schedule a day trip, buy yourself a gift, etc. Second, concentrate on gratitude – it’s a concerted effort to daily identify at least three things we are grateful for. Many people journal this on a daily basis and have found that it increases overall feelings of positivity.
Part of the gratitude process may include serving those who are less fortunate than we are. There is power in doing some volunteer work, such as visiting a nursing care facility, helping serve the homeless
at Feed My Sheep, or getting supplies for homeless shelters.
If your stress or sadness is attributed
to contact with family, it is completely okay to limit your attendance at family gatherings. Make a plan to celebrate with others who make you feel good instead. If it turns out that none of these are helping and you feel your holiday blues turning into depression, it may be time to seek professional help from a therapist or your doctor.
102 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2019 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
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