The holidays signify different things for people.
For some it’s family togetherness and merriment, for others it’s
food and football.
But for many Americans the added responsibilities of house
guests, decorating, holiday parties and the multitude of other
tasks can add a tremendous amount of tension and anxiety to an
already stressful life, said Dr. Carol Johnson-Schroetlin, a
clinical psychologist at the San Benito County Mental Health
Department.
The holidays signify different things for people.
For some it’s family togetherness and merriment, for others it’s food and football.
But for many Americans the added responsibilities of house guests, decorating, holiday parties and the multitude of other tasks can add a tremendous amount of tension and anxiety to an already stressful life, said Dr. Carol Johnson-Schroetlin, a clinical psychologist at the San Benito County Mental Health Department.
“It’s the holiday blues,” Johnson-Schroetlin said. “The general population gets overwhelmed with all the duties – it’s all those stresses and pressures of doing multiple tasks in a short period of time.”
The “holiday blues” are caused by fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints and others, according to the National Mental Health Association.
Headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping and just a few symptoms of the holiday blues.
An increase in stress in the general population during the holidays is common, but the Mental Health Department doesn’t really see an increase with their clientele, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
“People who are depressed are going to continue to be depressed – they kind of know what to expect,” she said. “They don’t often have unrealistic expectations because they’re depressed.”
There is usually a slight increase after the holidays, when people begin re-evaluating their life in the past year or experience a “crash” from the high amounts of stress throughout the holidays, she said.
“Maybe the family didn’t get along as you had hoped, or things didn’t work out as you had anticipated,” she said. “We see our clients re-engage and we see people in the community reach out too.”
People who do experience pressure and agitation due to the holiday blues should decide what duties are feasible to accomplish versus impractical ideologies, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
“Get back more to the basics – what’s really the true meaning of the holidays,” she said. “Keep your lifestyle in as normal a routine as possible.”
Making your life more rudimentary is one of the best ways to deal with the holiday blues.
Balancing things that top the list of priorities with tasks that aren’t as important will manage stress levels and make the holidays a happy time instead of a distressing one, she said.
“Maybe it’s the year that you don’t send out Christmas cards,” she said. “And if there’s some traditions that you feel strong about doing, how can you simplify other things?”
Many people have a hard time even acknowledging that holiday activities are causing them problems, she said. Recognizing the root of the stress is part of overcoming it and moving past it.
Other factors such as grief and loss can play a big part in holiday blues. Because there is so much emphasis on family during the season, if there is a part of your family missing it can elevate an already stressful time.
“If there has been a recent loss, or us being at war – you have to be aware of those things and be able to talk with someone,” she said. “If it gets to the point that talking with a friend or simplifying your life doesn’t help, then the next step is calling mental health or a counselor.”
For families who have loved ones in Iraq or who were killed, there are several things that can help get them through the season, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
Buying a special candle for that person, each person sharing a special memory around the Christmas dinner table or having a moment of silence are all ways to still include someone who’s not there.
“Keep them in the holiday celebration,” she said. “But if it’s too difficult because the loss is very fresh, then do something different.”
Spend some time away from the home – where the memories are the strongest – such as the mountains. Instead of having a traditional holiday meal have something you usually would never fix, she said.
“You have choices, and that’s the thing – to really listen to yourself and your own needs,” she said. “Talk to someone about the different things you can do to get you through the holidays.”
The Mental Health Department welcomes walk-in patients whenever the office is open, and they have a 24-hour hotline if someone feels they need a professional to talk them through a stressful situation.
For after-hours, an answering service will patch a caller to an on-call therapist, Johnson-Schroetlin said.
“If it’s the day after Thanksgiving, they can call us and someone will be there to talk,” she said.
To contact mental health workers, call (831) 636-4020, or 1-800-636-4020.
