The holiday season is upon us and the merriment and joy is a very exciting time for most people. However, for many individuals, the period between Thanksgiving through New Year's Day does nothing for them but bring on the blues. With holiday celebrations to attend and family gatherings to prepare for, the holiday season can be busy and joyful. But for others, unrealistic expectations and the stresses of holiday events can increase anxiety and cause depression.
This time of the year, in general, we are reminded of people we missed and reflecting on life not being what we would like it to be. The season triggers childhood memories and how things used to be. And, too often, people have a tendency to assign positive spin to things from the past and sometimes and look back to their childhood and think wouldn't it be wonderful if things were like that again.
The elderly are particularly vulnerable especially if they are physically incapacitated or estranged from friends and family members. The holiday season is supposed to be a time of happiness and joy, but for many seniors this is far from their reality. For many seniors, feelings of sadness, loneliness and isolation are their holiday companions.
There are many factors that contribute to those feelings of sadness that seniors may experience. Many elders are widowed, have lost their close friends as they age, are separated from family and may be suffering with chronic illness. Too often, the elders may feel guilty for experiencing feelings of sadness and loneliness which may in turn intensify those same feelings. To help cope with the holiday blues, seniors shouldn't isolate themselves. If you are unable to be with family than invite friends over to share the holiday spirits. Also volunteer your time helping others is a great way to forget your own troubles.
Thanksgiving is certainly the starting point for the season of blues, this is true for those who celebrate Christmas and for those individuals who do not. However, New Year's Eve can lead to intense sadness or profound depression and some individual may experience anxiety about New Year resolution making and looking back on the previous year can cause more anxiety. The season to be jolly can be a rude-awaken for people with limited coping skills, especially for those dealing with financial hardship. To spend beyond your means can certainly lead to depression.
Today's society in which individualism is highly valued, the holiday blues may hit more people harder because we live more isolated lives. in far too many cases, we drive up to our houses, wave to our neighbors, push the garage remote and vanish inside our homes. We captive to technology and rather email people than talk to them face-to-face. We must make time ... we must make the effort and reach out to others, human being need a sense of belonging; We are tribal by nature.
The best cure for the holiday blues is a strong dose of getting together with friends, sharing the seasonal blues or get high on volunteerism