Tis the season to be jolly but many Americans suffer from stress, depression, and sadness during the holidays. LSU Health New Orleans Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Rahn Bailey says holiday depression can stem from numerous causes.
“They may have had a recent loss of a family member. If a family member has gone on to heaven, they may also spend time more reflectively thinking at the end of the calendar year what they wanted to do that year.”
Symptoms of holiday blues include loneliness, irritability, changes in eating or sleeping habits, fatigue, and poor concentration.
Bailey says don’t feel guilty about saying no to things like holiday parties or spending time with people. He also recommends acknowledging the issue and being more open when it comes to taking care of your mental health.
“Trying to hide them don’t necessarily make them go away. And all too often they kind of pop out at the wrong times. Like times you have an explosion around the December holiday table when you really didn’t know someone was feeling like they were to implode or explode so to speak emotionally.”
Bailey encourages everyone to proactively seek care before the problem worsens. He urges those who are suffering from depression not to compare themselves to others who seem to have it all this time of year.
“Social media tends to impart to others everything about our life is great. We don’t show the behind the scenes work that have to be done. Don’t falsify expectations by thinking that everyone else has a level of perfection. That might not be the case.”
If you feel overwhelmed, you can also speak with a trained counselor by dialing 988 on your phone.
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