ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

HOLIDAY DEPRESSION

AUBURN, NOV. 19---Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's are festive occasions. For many, it is a time of deepening friendships and family ties, reflecting on religious values, being thankful, and resolving to improve in the coming year. However, according to Dr. Jennifer Kerpelman, Extension family and child development specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, for some people, these year-end holidays bring with them some unpleasant side effects, even holiday depression.

Most of what we hear about holiday depression or 'holiday blues' comes from the popular press and it is often difficult to sort out the folklore from the facts, says Kerpelman. While there has been little research on the topic, it is known that the number of admissions to mental health institutions for treatment of depression-related illnesses tends to increase just after the holiday season.

"The expectations people have for the holiday season sometimes set them up for this seasonal depression," Kerpelman adds. "They may expect everything to be so perfect when the in-laws visit that they become physically and emotionally exhausted. People may reflect on holiday seasons of the past and feel sad that the holidays aren't what they used to be. When visiting with family and friends, people may expect a high degree of closeness and quality time, even though they haven't visited with each other in quite a while."

Mothers, especially, are vulnerable during the holidays and may feel personally responsible to see that everyone in the family has a great time. They may feel guilty if someone doesn't fully enjoy the holidays.

When holidays hold special religious meaning for people, they may expect special spiritual feelings during the holidays and feel disappointed if they don't experience them.

What can help you avoid the holiday depression trap? Narrow the distance between the beliefs and behavior. Unhappiness and frustration usually occur when what happens doesn't match what was wanted or expected to happen, Kerpelman says.

On one hand, you may need to adjust your beliefs about what should happen over the holidays. On the other hand, you may need to act more in accordance with your beliefs. For example, you may have holiday-related expectations about housekeeping, meal preparation, gift-giving and receiving, relationships and other things. Look at these carefully and ask, "Are these realistic?" It's probably not realistic to expect that you will clean the carpets, draperies and closets, refinish the kitchen chairs, and wash every square inch of wall, woodwork, and window prior to relatives arriving.

On the other hand, if you feel lonely during the holidays and would rather spend more time with others, make plans now to make that happen.

SOURCE: DR. JENNIFER KERPELMAN, Extension Family and Resource Development Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-4149