Avoiding the Blues
The holiday season is a time full of joy, cheer, parties, and family gatherings. However, for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures, and anxiety about an uncertain future. Depression is one of the highest causes of disability year-round, said Dr. Kenneth Johnson, a psychiatrist at Columbia St. Mary’s, with the latest reports showing that it costs the American economy between $45 billion and $50 billion a year due to lost productivity and medical costs.
Studies show that depression is also one of the most common illnesses for adults of working age and the biggest factor in suicide for college students. Dr. Johnson explained that you don’t have to have full-blown depression to experience the holiday blues. “It’s multifactor. Wintertime in general is a little bit harder for people, but I think the bigger cause of holiday depression is unmet expectations,” His solution? “Decide for yourself what the holiday means for you and how you’re going to make it a good holiday.”
What Causes Holiday Blues?
According to Mental Health America, formerly known as the National Mental Health Association, many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions, and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. People who do not become depressed may develop other stress responses, such as: headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating, and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1st. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded with the excess fatigue and stress.
People with depression die at a higher rate of heart disease because depression increases your risk for having another heart attack or fatal arrhythmia. Why? Because there are significant changes in the brain that effect the nervous system and hormones.
Dr. Steven P. Roose, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, gave tips on The Early Show to recognize the signs of depression for loved ones in their golden years.
About 20% of all people who had a heart attack will experience depression afterward. Depressed individuals are at a greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It is known that depressed people are more likely to die after a heart attack or stroke compared with non-depressed patients. The bottom line is that if you're worried about the life of a man over 50, you should check his mood before his heart, Roose says. Men need to be made aware of the risks they face as they hit 50 because effective treatments are available.
Can Environment Be a Factor?
Recent studies show that some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which results from fewer hours of sunlight as the days grow shorter during the winter months. Phototherapy, a treatment involving a few hours of exposure to intense light, is effective in relieving depressive symptoms in patients with SAD.
Other studies on the benefits of phototherapy found that exposure to early morning sunlight were effective in relieving seasonal depression. Recent findings, however, suggest that patients respond equally well to phototherapy whether it is scheduled in the early afternoon. This has practical applications for antidepressant treatment since it allows the use of phototherapy in the workplace as well as the home.
Managing Depression
How do you know if you are Depressed?
Symptoms include loss of interest and pleasure, feeling bored or lonely, excessive feelings of worthlessness or guilt and suicidal thoughts. Depression can also lead to eating and sleeping disorders which affect physical health.
How to Manage Depression:
- Do something you really enjoy, such as listening to music.
- Speak to someone you trust about how you feel, such as your doctor or family member.
- Let it out. It is ok to cry.
- Write down how you are feeling, or use your artistic talents to illustrate what you are feeling.
- Take up a new hobby or project.
- Eat regular and healthy meals to avoid the blues; no one feels good on an empty stomach.
Lastly, everyone should make it their duty to care for themselves and others. If you or someone you know is feeling depressed for more than a few days in a row, practice the management steps listed above. Managing depression is important to achieve overall good health.
As the holiday season fast approaches and many of us may be experiencing some anxiety about our finances and the lack of resources, let’s keep things in perspective. The best gift we can give and/or receive is the gift of health, peace, family, friends, and lots of love.