Christmas – Healing the Christmas Blues – Top 10 Tips to Turn the Blues Around!

There is a flip side to Christmas cheer, optimism, hope, generosity, peace on earth, and goodwill to all. For some there is a dark side present known as the Christmas blues. It can be filled with self-criticism, loneliness, self-doubt, stress, anxiety, and pessimism.

Images of happy couples and happy families enjoying the perfect vacation can set off a downhill road of self-criticism and emotional pain. These constant images and reminders of happiness can be painful and unsettling or even intense emotional triggers for others. The solution is to recognize your triggers, find ways to respond to these triggers so you can turn them into something positive, and have realistic expectations and achievable goals for the holiday season. However, it’s best to see a doctor when feelings of “blue” persist for more than a couple of weeks. In which case it may be depression. If left untreated, depression can become a serious and life-threatening disorder.

Various factors can contribute to the “holiday blues,” including stress, fatigue, troubled family relationships, loss of a loved one, lack of sunlight, media images, unrealistic expectations, and financial constraints . These factors can lead to feelings of sadness, loneliness, stress, anger, or tension. There may be changes in sleep patterns, lack of energy, headaches, agitation, anxiety, decreased interest in favorite activities, or excessive drinking, eating, and feelings of guilt. While others may not feel as satisfied as one would like, others get caught up in the blame game, comparing themselves to others and indulging in a pity party: “Everyone looks so happy and prosperous, why can’t I? be? What’s wrong with me?”

Emotional pain is part of being human and we want to be aware and feel our emotions. Learn from them and let them go. Experts tell us that depression is often frozen anger or hurt. You may want to know the symptoms of “depression” and know when you need medical help. You can take an online self-help test to see where you stand. There are several questionnaires

Self-assessment questionnaire including the Wakefield Questionnaire available from the “Journey of the Hearts” online healing site. This site helps visitors assess their level of depression.

Here are some coping strategies to deal with sadness. Remember to make your own list that you can keep handy and ready to refer to whenever you recognize the “Blues” surface feelings. Do something from your list and if it doesn’t work try something else from the list. If you get to the stage where nothing seems to be helping, it’s time to consider an evaluation for depression.

1. Choose to surround yourself with positive and supportive people and limit your time with negative family, friends or colleagues as much as possible. If this is difficult, choose to change the topic to one that is positive. They will soon get the message or back off. Remember misery loves misery!

2. Give. Yes, go give your time and help out at a charity or nursing home. It’s amazing how much better you can feel when you give of yourself and help others who are less fortunate than you. This is also a wonderful way to rekindle the true spirit of Christmas with the act of selfless giving.

3. If you feel lonely, find ways to make new friends: join a new club, organization, sports group, or self-help or interest group, e.g. Knitting, reading books, riding a bike, hiking in the bush. Do something you haven’t done before. Reach out to make new friends. But find something that interests you.

4. Set healthy boundaries when socializing or attending work or family functions. Make a deal with yourself, for example, to have a small slice of cake and an alcoholic beverage and skip the snack rounds. Come up with strategies you can use when you’re away so you don’t offend your host and don’t overdo it and feel tired and weighed down.

5. Set realistic goals and expectations for the holidays. You don’t have to say yes to every invitation. You don’t have to invite all your friends to dinners and parties. Set a budget and plan ahead with a to-do list for each month leading up to the holidays so you don’t feel overwhelmed when they arrive. Think and write a list of gifts that do not involve money, such as time, support and sharing memories, such as visiting a relative, sharing photos and memories, reading an inspiring Christmas story with your family every night.

6. Try a new practice to overcome harsh self-criticism. Sit down, close your eyes and think about a part of yourself that you have a hard time accepting or you find yourself criticizing. Think of someone you admire or respect. Visualize them fully accepting you just the way you are, forgiving you for not accepting you, and telling you that you’re okay. Then think about the gift of this learning. Ask yourself how accepting and loving this part of you can make you a better person. What does he want to teach you about life – look for the positive – it will heal you and make you stronger.

7. Learning to meditate can be a good way to get in touch with your feelings and a way to release stress in your body and mind. You can start now by even closing your eyes and breathing deeply for 5 to 10 minutes each day and watching your thoughts and allowing them to fade away.

8. Find joys that lift you up. Write a list of things you remember that are pleasurable. For example, it could be simply making a hot chocolate and sipping it while you take a break and watch the birds in a tree for 5 minutes. It could be watching a fun movie, playing an uplifting piece of music, or reading a chapter from a favorite inspirational book.

9. Do some kind of exercise. Experts now tell us that some form of movement for 30 minutes four to five times a week can be an effective antidepressant. Try yoga, an exercise class at a gym, join a walking club, or just commit to turning off the TV and taking a brisk walk every night. Try different types of exercise until you find one you like, and then commit to doing it every week. Not only will you feel better emotionally, but you’ll also be healthier physically.

10. Practice gratitude. Value your life, your experiences and the people around you. As you walk, remind yourself of everything you have to be thankful for and remember to be thankful for the time you’ve had with loved ones you may have lost this year.