Holiday Blues Busters
< Dec. 26, 2007 > -- Eating a balanced diet and staying active are keys for beating the blues this holiday season, say mental health experts.
"I see more cases of depression in January than any other time of year," Dr. Gary L. Malone, medical director and chief of behavioral health at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, Texas, says.
Once the party is over, and the wrapping paper has been picked up, many otherwise festive people may feel unusually down. Elderly people are especially prone to depressive moods.
A combination of factors causes depression, according to the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred). Some cases are triggered by a stressful experience, such as the death of a spouse or loss of a job.
Some illnesses, such as heart attack or cancer, also can cause depression, as can alcohol and drug abuse. Being vulnerable to depression may be inherited and events such as stresses at home, work, or school, cause the depression to occur.
According to Baylor health system experts, the holiday season is fraught with triggers for depression. Eating, drinking and spending too much are among the causes of holiday blues. Add family tension or grief over lost loved ones, and the mix can become potent.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says women experience depression about twice as often as men. Some reasons may be related to hormonal cycles - particularly menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and menopause.
Many women also face stresses such as responsibilities both at work and home, single parenthood, and caring for children and for aging parents. Although men are less likely to suffer from depression than women, the rate of suicide in men is four times that of women, though more women attempt it.
According to Dr. Malone, there are a few things people can do to avoid post-holiday letdown.
Eating a balanced diet, which results in more energy and an improved sense of wellbeing, is one way to improve your mood and ward off depression. Also try cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, if you are having trouble sleeping.
Going for a walk is one of the quickest blues busters, but any type of physical activity can helps you lose weight and improve your mood. If the winter weather looks foreboding, then work out inside, or join your fellow post-holiday shoppers walking the indoors at a local shopping mall. New Year's specials on gym or health-club memberships are sure to abound as well and may open up new social opportunities in addition to providing a venue for regular exercise.
Talking about your situation with a friend or family member can also help to improve your mood. According to Dr. Malone, sharing your troubles with someone else can be a relief, and they may be able to offer a new perspective on your troubles. Be sure to inquire about your confidant's outlook, too - you may be able to immediately return the favor or being an active and thoughtful listener.
Always consult your physician for more information.
|
Find
a Physician at
St. John's Mercy
or call our Physician Referral Service at 314-FOR-DOCS
Everyone gets down in the dumps from time to time. But you may suffer from clinical depression if a feeling of sadness or loss of interest in life and friends lingers for two weeks or more.
Depression can occur at any age and occurs in both men and women. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), depression can be categorized into three general forms.
- major depression - in a major depression the symptoms interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.
- dysthymia - this is a less severe type of depression. Its symptoms go on for a long time.
- bipolar depression (also called manic depressive illness) - in this form, a person cycles through mood changes varying from severe highs to deep depressions.
According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the following steps should be immediately taken if someone is threatening suicide:
- Take the person seriously.
- Involve other people.
- Contact friends and family members.
- Express concern.
- Listen attentively.
- Ask direct questions.
- Acknowledge the person's feelings.
- Offer reassurance.
- Do not promise confidentiality.
- If possible, do not leave the person alone.
- Contact a mental health professional and/or call 911 immediately.
- Keep potentially harmful objects hidden.
- Prepare for possible hospitalization, if the physician advises.
Always consult your physician for more information.
(Our Organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.)
American Dietetic Association
American Psychological Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Dietary Guidelines - MyPyramid.gov
International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred)
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
|
