Dealing with holiday blues

Originally published Dec. 14, 1997, in the Columbia Daily Herald.

By Tim Wood

At this time of year we read and hear much about holiday depression. It's ironic that during a time of such celebration, many people find themselves feeling sad.

I'm one of the many folks who have suffered this, although not in a major way. Through trial and error, I've discovered a few things that help the problem.

The first technique is the tried-and-true "If you think you have it bad ..." approach. If we think our circumstances are bad, we don't have to look far to find others who are in worse shape. This can help us put things in perspective.

An Opinion Page column in this newspaper last week told of World War II atrocities. A magazine story I read re-visited a Vietnam War atrocity in which adults and children were massacred. I thought of how these people were created by God, but their lives were snuffed out horribly, and in many cases, at a young age.

It made me feel good to be alive and healthy. If you are in good enough shape to read this, things definitely could be worse in your life.

This kind of thinking can help one readjust his perspective, but it may not help address the underlying causes of holiday sadness. There are valid reasons to feel sad during the holidays. For many of us, the happiest times of our lives occurred during this season. Families are such a focal point of this holiday, and we are reminded of loved ones who are no longer with us, or not able to celebrate the holiday as they once did.

Sometimes it's all right to feel sad. Grieving is a natural part of life.

But while we may grieve for those who are no longer with us, we also can feel joy in remembering the special times we shared with them. These memories can bring joy.

Another cause of the holiday blues is one's health. It's a very busy time of the year, and it's easy to take poor care of yourself.

Missing sleep, changing your eating habits and experiencing the stress of holiday activities can affect you physically. If the body is not functioning well, the mind also is affected.

Since I'm playing amateur psychologist here, let me add that there is nothing wrong with seeking help from a professional therapist or counselor.

Another option is to simply talk to a friend or family member about your feelings. This can do much to relieve the feelings of sadness.

And finally, try to enjoy the holiday. There are a few holiday activities which bring me out of the doldrums. Here are a few of them:

·Look at Christmas lights. Columbia has many houses that are decorated beautifully. I enjoy both lavishly-decorated houses and the more simply done residences. It seems that at this time of the year, there is a beautifully-decorated house around every corner.

·Listen to the music. Some of the greatest music ever created is performed only during this season of the year. This helps make it even more special. Christmas songs can trigger pleasant memories. Sing Christmas carols. Singing is a healthy activity, and you don't have to be good at it to benefit from it.

·Help someone. Almost daily, there is some story in the newspaper about someone in need. The Daily Herald's Community Christmas Card is one way to help others. Believe me, you will benefit as well.

·Find an opportunity to be around children. If you don't have children in your immediate family, go to a church music program and listen to children sing.

Here's hoping your holiday blues fade away and you can enjoy this wonderful holiday.
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