All About Post-Holiday Blues
When the holidays pass, you might feel a wave of sadness taking over. But it can be reassuring to know that there are ways to cope.
For some, the hype of the holidays can bring excitement, joy, and a sense of nostalgia. For others, the holiday season can bring up past trauma, estranged relationships, and feelings of loneliness.
No matter where your feelings fall regarding the holidays, it’s possible to feel sadness or post-holiday blues after the holidays pass.
What are the post-holiday blues?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) describes the holiday blues as feelings of anxiety and stress that come up around the holidays and may be due to unrealistic expectations or memories connected to the holiday season.
Gina Moffa, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist based in New York City, says post-holiday blues are temporary and encompass a series of emotions that occur after the emotional whirlwind of the holidays is over.
“This can be akin to feeling sad, anxious, or depressed with the characteristics of seasonal affective disorder,” Moffa says. “Your sleep may be affected, energy levels, and even your ability to concentrate, because after all, the holidays also give us a break from our everyday life and work monotony.”
After the holidays, going back to the day-to-day routine can feel distressing and anxiety-provoking, she adds.
What causes post-holiday blues?
There are many reasons you might experience the holiday blues. Some of them include:
· Time of year - Given that Daylight Saving Time falls closely before Thanksgiving, turning the clocks back 1 hour can have effects on the body. It may take time for you to adjust to the time change.
· Alcohol consumption - Drinking alcohol is often part of holiday celebrations, and alcohol has been shown to contribute to symptoms of depression.
· Overeating - Indulging in your favorite foods and desserts are often part of holiday gatherings. However, a 2019 study shows that eating unhealthily can leave you feeling down.
· Busyness - Turning down parties and outings during the holiday season can feel like you‘re being a grinch, but overextending yourself by saying “yes” to everything can feel stressful and overwhelming.
· Lack of sleep - Whether from busyness, the stress of paying for gifts and activities, or excitement from festivities, the holidays can mess with your sleep.
· Financial strain and more
Can you prevent holiday blues?
Some people might feel relief after the holidays pass because they have more time, energy, fewer emotional triggers, and less need to spend money, Moffa says. But for others, not having anything to look forward to other than a long, cold winter can cause sadness.
“The key to preventing the post-holiday blues is knowing that you get them,” she adds. “Prevention is about understanding our seasonal rhythms and working with them, leaning into them, and then finding a way to work with them instead of fighting the feelings when they arise.”
As you prepare for the holidays, she suggests:
planning down time to read a book or watch a movie you’ve been wanting to see
arranging a small family weekend away
reorganizing how you spend your weeknights after work, so they include things you enjoy doing
“No matter what you decide, planning ahead is key in working with the post-holiday blues,” Moffa says.
Source: https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-manage-post-holiday-depression