According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people with an existing mental illness report that the holidays make their condition worse.
Holiday Depression symptoms can include:
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Depressed or irritable mood
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Feeling tense, worried or anxious
- Loss of pleasure in doing thing you used to enjoy
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
These symptoms sound quite similar to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of Major Depressive Disorder that occurs in seasonal patterns during certain months of the year. The differences lie in:
- Duration – Holiday Depression typically begins in November or December and lifts around the New Year. SAD can last up to 40% of the year, starting in late fall and lasting until spring or summer.
- Severity – Holiday Depression symptoms are typically mild in comparison to the symptoms of SAD, which are often more severe and debilitating.
What are my options for treatment?
Holiday Depression can be improved with lifestyle changes, such as monitoring alcohol consumption, adjusting expectations, not overextending financially and engaging social supports. Although it may be short term, talking to a therapist can help to manage expectations and stress.
If you suspect you suffer from SAD, you’ll need a proper assessment and diagnosis from a mental health professional. Treatment options include medication, individual and group therapy.
Both Holiday Depression and SAD can benefit from the following:
- Therapy
- Depression lamp/Light Therapy
- Support group
- Self care
- Regular exercise
- Boundaries/Saying “no”
- Gratitude journal