No Holiday Blues

Have you ever heard of the idea that around Christmas, the suicide and depression rates soar like anything? I've always thought that this was true - until I took a quiz at Mythbusters, which proved me wrong. Anyhow, I suppose that I believed it to be true simply because I would feel the blues during the holidays. I found a really helpful article at MSN about beating the blues during the holidays. What struck me was the idea that you should look into three aspects from which depression may stem. These are:

• Relationships. Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflicts can intensify—especially if you're all thrust together for several days. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many different personalities, needs and interests. On the other hand, if you're facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad.
• Finances. Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. But overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on your gift list is happy. You may find yourself in a financial spiral that leaves you with depression symptoms such as hopelessness, sadness and helplessness.
• Physical demands. The strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep—good antidotes for stress and fatigue—may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink—all are ingredients for holiday illness.

Tell me about it! These three things can give you stress like anything else.

Today, for the first time this month, I found myself actually looking forward to the holidays. I am hell bent on being happy and enjoying myself- will look at these three aspects carefully and make sure that they do not become depression triggers. :D

Photo courtesy of Virgin Media