National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Mental Health and the Holiday Blues
H
igh expectations, loneliness and stress can lead to the “Holiday Blues.” In most cases symptoms are temporary, but they can be serious if they last for more than two weeks, leading to clinical anxiety and depression. The “holiday blues” can stem from a variety of sources, such as current events, personal grief, loneliness, illnesses of all kinds, economic concerns, separation from family members, separation or divorce. The COVID-19 crisis has made maintaining mental health more challenging for many. “For many, the holiday season is not always the most wonderful time of the year,” said NAMI Northeast Region PA executive director Marie Onukiavage. “For individuals 54
and families coping with mental health challenges, the holiday season can be a lonely or stressful time. There is a tremendous need for people to reach out and watch out for each other in keeping with the spirit of the season.” Be mindful of the following: • Holiday blues are different from mental illness, but shortterm mental health problems must be taken seriously because they can lead to clinical anxiety and depression. • People already living with mental illness are often affected by the holiday blues. Individuals, families and friends should know symptoms and watch out for each other. • There are many ways to avoid or minimize holiday blues. NAMI can be a source of support. • It’s a myth that suicides increase during the holidays, but suicide risks are always serious. HappeningsPA.com
• Children and teens get the blues too. The highest rate for child psychiatric hospitalizations occurs in winter. None of this means that we should skip the holidays entirely. Instead, there are strategies to minimize the negative aspects of the season. Be realistic. Don’t worry about how things ‘should be.’ Ask yourself, do I really have to do everything on my list? Why am I doing things that make me miserable? Draw up a list of reasons to engage in holiday traditions, and then a list of reasons not to engage. A simple pro and con list will remind us that we do have a choice. There is a lot of cultural pressure during the holidays. We tend to compare ourselves with idealized notions of perfect families and perfect holidays. Remember, other families have their own stressors to contend with. December 2021
