What is Holiday Depression: The holiday season brings happiness, get-togethers and festivals for many but for some it can become a time of pressure, loneliness and depression.
The last time of the year is full of celebratory atmosphere everywhere with festivals, holidays, gifts and get-togethers. In such times we assume that everyone will be happy. But the reality is that many people are not happy in this season, but rather feel more lonely, stressed, anxious or sad. In psychology it is called Holiday Depression, Holiday Stress or Holiday Blues. According to health experts, this is a normal but emotionally heavy experience that affects many people at the end of the year. Know why holiday depression occurs?
Loneliness, distance and social disconnect
Festivals are usually celebrated with family and close ones. But if a person is away from family, has lost a loved one, is feeling socially isolated, then the festive time deepens his sadness. This is the biggest cause of Holiday Blues.
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Family-social expectations and financial burden
Be it buying a gift, going to a party, making preparations or increasing expenses. All this happens for happiness, but sometimes these things become the biggest cause of stress. This stress due to low budget, high expectations and emotional pressure reduces people’s excitement and lowers their mood.
Holiday rush and lack of time
There is no less work during festivals. During this time, there is dual responsibility of cleaning the house, calling relatives, cooking, gift list, office and home. All this disturbs our sleep, routine and energy. Due to which the mind can feel tired, irritable and heavy.
Weather, less sunlight and less going out
In winter, the days are shorter, there is less sunlight and due to the cold, people go out less. Due to this, serotonin is produced less in the body which affects the mood. This is a major cause of seasonal depression.
Everyone is happy, it’s not just me who thinks
Everyone’s happy pictures are seen on social media but this is not the whole truth. When someone is already a little sad and sees these pictures, he feels that he is alone, everyone is happier than him. This thinking deepens holiday depression.
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When can Holiday Blues become a mental problem?
- persistent sadness or despair
- lose interest in anything
- changes in eating and sleeping
- persistent tiredness or drowsiness
- uneasiness or nervousness
- thoughts of self harm
7 effective ways to avoid holiday depression
- Accept your feelings. What you are feeling is not wrong. Millions of people around the world feel exactly the same way. Understand your feelings instead of blaming yourself.
- Learn to say no and set boundaries. Every party, every invitation, every preparation is not your duty. If you don’t feel like it, it’s absolutely fine to refuse. Make space for yourself, don’t overload yourself.
- Spend time with people you trust. If there is no family, then friends become the chosen family. Talk to someone who understands you. Call, message, video call connection lightens the mood instantly.
- Pay emotional respect to lost close people. If the pain of losing someone is deep, don’t run away from it. Make their favorite dish, write a memoir, or donate to a worthy cause. It lightens the heart and helps in healing.
- Research shows that helping others reduces stress. Filling someone’s plate, donating, volunteering, can become a great emotional support for you.
- Don’t compare your life with others’ pictures. There are struggles hidden behind every photo that you cannot see. Taking a digital break provides instant relief to your mental health.
- Self-care often gets left behind in the hustle and bustle of festivals. But it is most important that adequate sleep, eating on time, light walk or yoga, morning sunlight, 10 minutes of time in fresh air will give balance to the body and then the mind will also remain calm.