As the year-end holidays approaches, the societal customs of celebrations begin. Even though holidays are a time of cheerfulness, rejoicing and quality time with loved ones, it can also be overwhelming for some.
Holiday blues are quite common. It is the feeling of sadness that can last throughout the holiday season. It is even more possible during November and December as the number of holidays is more along with celebrations.
A Counselling Psychologist from Fortis Healthcare, Nishtha Narula talked about a few of the many reasons that contribute to the feeling of exhaustion, sadness, loneliness and anxiety.
Holiday Blues: Reasons and Solutions
Here are some of those:
Feelings of isolation
Dr Nishtha says, “One of the primary reasons behind holiday blues is not being able to celebrate this time with loved ones and friends. Loneliness can give way to feelings of sadness which makes help-seeking behaviour more difficult.” She suggests to ‘plan in advance’. “Ensure that you are in the company of your support system ahead of the holiday time. Connect with friends and make plans to have something to look forward to.” she added.
Lifestyle
Being on the go can feel overwhelming. According to the Counselling Psychologist, “During the holidays, we tend to have a demanding schedule between work and social commitments. This often leads to not being able to get enough rest. Lack of rest and sleep can lead to feelings of exhaustion and irritability. It’s important to take a pause and give yourself some rest and relaxation.”
Establish and maintain boundaries
Dr Nishtha explains that “holiday time can involve situations where you may need to overextend yourself to help others. This may often be financially or emotionally. Whereas it’s kind to offer support and help, it is also important to check in with yourself, take stock of your resources, and avoid over-committing yourself.”
Have a realistic approach
Dr Nishtha says it right that ‘a lot of us have high expectations from the holiday season.’ She says, “These can often be influenced by social media creating faulty expectations to constantly feel happy and cheerful and take part in celebrations in a certain way. It’s also important to identify when you are falling into the trap of unrealistic expectations to have a perfect holiday.” She suggests “Maintain clarity that things may not always go according to our expectations and allow flexibility. Remember that the idea is to have good moments and enjoy the experience.”
Invest in yourself
Dr Nishtha points out that investing in oneself is an important part of maintaining healthy mental health. She suggests, “Ensure that you find time for yourself during the holidays. Amidst the cheer and exhaustion, it’s key to be able tofind moments that are mindful and relaxing.” She puts forward the idea that different ‘activities like reading a book, connecting with nature, indulging in self-care, exercising or just simply being quiet with yourself can be key.’ “You may also want to use this time to reflect on the past year and be grateful for all the positive and negative learnings you have had While at the same time gearing up for the new year with hope and optimism”, she added.
Reach out for support
She conveys the importance of asking out help when in need. She says, “If you find yourself struggling with negative thoughts about yourself and others along with constant feelings of sadness and loneliness, you must reach out to someone to talk to. This can be a loved one or a mental health professional. Avoid bottling up your feelings as that would lead to a worsening of your well-being. Reach out and talk, seek help and support.”