How to Prevent ‘Holiday Blues’

JOURNAL: ISSUE 4 - 2014

The holiday season offers many festive, fun-filled occasions to celebrate with family and friends. But the holidays can also be stressful. Pressure to achieve the perfect celebration can cause financial burdens, family conflicts, and emotional and physical fatigue. 
Here are a few tips that can help mitigate “holiday blues”:

• Recognize that stress is a normal reaction to changes that occur during the holidays.
• Take care of yourself – get plenty of rest, eating right and exercise.
• Avoid activities that leave you emotionally or physically overwrought.
• Make thoughtful decisions on how to spend your time and energy
• Set up holiday budgetary guidelines to avoid financial strain.
• Hold realistic expectations for yourself and others. Holidays might not be a good time to resolve family grudges or emotionally-charged issues. Consciously spend time with friends and family who are supportive and uplifting; and connect with children to recall holiday enthusiasm. 

There are times, however, when overwhelming holiday stress develops into something more serious, such as clinical depression. Those warning signs include intense feelings of unhappiness, irritability, or hopelessness, dramatic appetite changes, sleeping problems, exhaustion, or a lack of interest in personal and work activities formerly enjoyed.

If you or a family member exhibit these warning signs, or have a case of the “holiday blues”, call BAC’s Member Assistance Program (MAP) for confidential help and guidance. MAP also helps retirees access community resources, avoid isolation and bring in holiday cheers. MAP services are free for active and retired union members and their families. Call toll-free: 1-888-880-8222, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST. Just ask for MAP.