Understanding Holiday Blues And The Mechanism To Cope With It
Written by Dr. Madiha Khan
The holiday season is all about happiness and celebrations. While it brings joy and pleasure for most people, for some, it brings unprecedented feelings of sadness, loneliness, stress, and disappointment.
What is the reason behind these apparently deviant or aberrant emotions some of us experience during a time when we are supposed to feel happy and content?
Expectations versus reality:
There are a lot of expectations during the holiday season; expectations of feeling content, blessed and bonding with family, friends and being surrounded by love, laughter, and company. When these expectations cannot be a reality for some people, it leads to feelings of disappointment, sadness, and loneliness. For people who are not surrounded by loved ones, for those who might be grieving the loss of a loved one, or those who might not be able to afford to celebrate the holiday season may be a reminder of what they are missing in life. What makes things worse is falling for the social media trap with its depiction of picture-perfect imageries.Financial stress:
Even people who consciously set aside budgets for holiday gifts and other expenditures can also sometimes feel overwhelmed and stressed. Due to the additional financial burden, they feel the guilt or shame, which is associated with not being able to do enough for their loved ones.Work overload:
Oftentimes, work becomes more stressful and demanding by the end of the year, especially before a time when most people are expected to take time off work. Meeting deadlines, finishing off projects, and handing over tasks to take time off work can lead to an increased amount of stress, anxiety, and feelings of burnout because the holiday break is not necessarily a restful period. Family conflicts: Being surrounded by family can be great in some ways but can bring its share of problems into the situation. Different families have different dynamics and while some may deal very well with reunions and large family holiday gatherings, most will have family politics, drama and a certain degree of negativity leading to emotional exhaustion.Pain of Losses:
Loss of any kind whether it's loss of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce or end of a relationship. The misery is recalled and felt with a deeper intensity around the time of holiday season.
So, how can we cope with these issues and Holiday blues?
- Make a realistic and practical holiday plan. Whether it involves only you or your family members, a discussion about how you want to spend the holidays and related festive occasions is something important.
- Plan an ideal and appropriate budget and stick to it without giving into any kind of social pressure.
- Make sure you are not overexerting yourself. Get good sleep, eat healthy and continue some form of exercise. Take time off in advance and if possible, give yourself at least a day of complete rest before starting activities or family meet-ups.
- Avoid alcohol, especially if you have coexisting mental health conditions.
- Be prepared for possible family conflicts and maintain appropriate boundaries to prevent them from getting serious.
- Do not be influenced by social media and fall into the trap of comparisons.
Madiha Khan, MD - Psychiatrist
Dr. Madiha Khan is an American board certified psychiatrist skilled in evidence based psychiatry, psychotherapy and women’s mental health.
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