The holidays are upon us and, frankly, we’re supposed to be happy. What’s not to be happy about? Holiday music, parties, foods of the season, decorations and the like should set the tone for good times. But there are many around us who suffer from the holiday blues and, for those with major depression, this season of cheer is anything but.
“The holiday blues oftentimes occur when people feel overwhelmed by the demands typically associated with this time of year including shopping, parties, family obligations and entertaining house guests,” said Dr. Robert Myers, Ph.D., a psychologist with Brand New Day, a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan in 12 counties in California. “This may cause stress and their way to cope with the tension is to drink excessively or overeat, behaviors that can only aggravate the situation and lead to other complications like headaches and insomnia."
For those who may be dealing with the less severe holiday blues, Myers recommends:
o Limiting your alcohol intake and not overeating as both activities can exacerbate feelings of depression
o Pacing yourself, not taking on more than you can handle and setting realistic goals.
o Making lists and sticking to them e.g., gift buying, holiday parties to attend, errands to run
o Setting a budget and not going over it no matter how much someone may be spending on you
o Enjoying some time alone or with your spouse
o Avoiding comparing your life with others and instead, concentrating on what you have
o Living in the moment without thinking about obligations you may have for the next day, week, month
o If you are lonely, volunteering your time in service to others as doing so is an ultimate reward
o If you don’t have the budget for buying gifts for family and friends, making something instead, creating your own holiday card and letting that person know how much he/she means to you, offering to be their errand person for a day, washing their car, cleaning their house, etc.
o Exercising even if that means a 20-minute walk around the neighborhood
In addition to its standard Medicare product, Brand New Day offers a number of specialized programs including the Harmony Plan, which is designed for those with such mental illnesses as major depression, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and paranoid disorder.
“Unlike the holiday blues, major depression is a much more serious condition typified by irritability, loss of interest in favorite pastimes, hopelessness, feelings of foreboding and suicidal thoughts. These feelings can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out everyday activities.,” continued Myers, who cites the National Institute of Mental Health’s statistics estimating that 16.2 million Americans suffer major depression. “Those exhibiting these symptoms should visit a mental health professional as medication and/or therapy have helped millions of people get a new lease on life.”
Brand New Day is the Medicare product name of Universal Care, Inc., a privately held California Knox-Keene Healthcare Service Plan licensed by the California Department of Managed Health Care and contracted with the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services as a Medicare Advantage contractor. Universal Care, Inc. is owned and operated by an experienced group of managed care executives and physicians. Universal Care, Inc. was founded in 1983. For more information, visit BNDHMO.com