Southern Indiana Living NovDec 2018
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The holidays are a joyous time of<br />
the year for many people. ‘Tis the<br />
season for spending time with<br />
loved ones and reuniting with distant<br />
friends and family. It’s a time of gatherings<br />
and celebrations; a time of sharing<br />
love and joy. For some people, it’s their favorite<br />
time of the year. What’s not to love?<br />
The holiday season can be a challenging<br />
time of the year for many people,<br />
however. The holidays can bring on<br />
anxiety, depression, fatigue, sadness and<br />
loneliness. The hustle and bustle of the<br />
season may cause stress as individuals try<br />
to fit additional work into an already busy<br />
schedule. The pressure to make everything<br />
memorable and perfect may cause<br />
undue anxiety. Some people experience<br />
isolation while others are burdened with<br />
sad memories from past holiday seasons.<br />
It might be the first holiday season after<br />
losing a loved one. Dealing with the increased<br />
demands of the holidays may be<br />
diffcult for everyone, but it is an especially<br />
challenging time of the year for individuals<br />
with existing mental health issues.<br />
A common problem during the holiday<br />
season is depression and it may occur<br />
in people who typically do not have problems<br />
with depression. When people only<br />
experience these feelings during the holiday<br />
season it is called the holiday blues.<br />
The holiday blues affect some more than<br />
others. According to a survey by The National<br />
Alliance on Mental Health, 64% of<br />
people say they are affected by the holiday<br />
blues and 24% stated the holidays affect<br />
them a lot.<br />
Whether you experience the holiday<br />
blues or have an existing mental health issue<br />
that is more diffcult to manage during<br />
the holidays, following these tips will<br />
help you “handle the holidays.”<br />
1. Sleep<br />
Sleep is important all the time, but even<br />
more important during the upcoming<br />
months. The holidays are notorious for<br />
Nov/Dec <strong>2018</strong> • 42<br />
How to Handle the Holidays<br />
being busy and overwhelming so be<br />
sure you are getting enough rest.<br />
It’s okay to say no.<br />
If you don’t feel like<br />
going to the third<br />
party in two weeks<br />
then don’t. Taking<br />
care of yourself is very<br />
important.<br />
2. Stay Organized<br />
The holidays are jam packed with<br />
things to do. It’s easy to forget you<br />
drew your cousin’s name in the family<br />
gift exchange or that you volunteered<br />
to bake cookies for your work party.<br />
Make a point to write things down or<br />
put them in your phone. To-do lists<br />
over the holidays are life savers.<br />
3. Take it easy<br />
It’s okay to say no. If you don’t feel like<br />
going to the third party in two weeks<br />
then don’t. Taking care of yourself<br />
is very important. You should know<br />
your limit and if you’re getting close<br />
to it, take a step back and stay in for<br />
the night. Don’t feel obligated to make<br />
every single event. Prioritize activities<br />
and don’t overcommit.<br />
4. Exercise<br />
You should make an effort to exercise<br />
regularly, but even people who do may<br />
skip it during the busy holiday season.<br />
Allow time to be active. If you don’t<br />
typically exercise this is a great time<br />
to start. Even short walks are helpful.<br />
* ADVERTISEMENT *<br />
Or get creative… try ice skating! Many<br />
communities will offer free holiday<br />
events that will encourage physical activity<br />
that may help you deal with the<br />
demands of the holidays.<br />
5. Budget<br />
If you know that money has been a<br />
stressor in the past then plan ahead<br />
this year. Set limits on your spending<br />
including gift giving, hosting expenses<br />
and travel. When January arrives, you<br />
will thank yourself!<br />
There are a number of ways to<br />
“handle the holidays.” Following these<br />
five tips will help you make the most of<br />
the holidays. If you don’t experience the<br />
holiday blues, be aware that someone you<br />
love might. Make an effort to check on a<br />
loved one during the holidays. Send them<br />
a card, give them a call, or send them a<br />
quick text. Let them know you are thinking<br />
of them. Happy Holidays! •<br />
PCS is located in Clarksville, Ind. and has<br />
been serving the community since 1959. The<br />
organization provides counseling services in<br />
the form of pastoral counseling, play therapy,<br />
trauma counseling, addictions therapy, music<br />
therapy, and more. There are also several<br />
outreach programs such as the older-adult<br />
community choir or the summer arts camp<br />
for kids. For more information, please visit the<br />
website at www.pcs-counseling.org or call our<br />
intake coordinator at 812-283-8383 x21.
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