Usually not long-lasting, most people swing back to normal after a short while.
The holidays are a busy time, and they last from Thanksgiving through New Years Eve.
Throughout this time, emotions are heightened, and sometimes difficult to regulate.
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At a Glance
Researchers have found that mental health problems tend to increase after the holiday season.
Here is what you oughta know about this down period.
The Post-Holiday Blues and Mental Health
Many people experience mental health challenges after the holidays.
Scientists have in fact studied the effect of religious holidays on individuals.
It included studies from the U.S. as well as other countries.
But they found an increase, or a rebound, following the Christmas holiday.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Signs of Post-Holiday Blues
How can you determine if what you have is indeed the post-holiday blues?
Rest assured, though signs may vary, any of these signs likely wont last too long.
This can worsen your feelings or stress, anxiety, and sadness.
Common emotions people feel include:
Emptiness
You might wonderwhy you feel empty.
Various reasons, including exhaustion, might contribute to you feeling this way.
After all, the holiday season is a frenzied time.
Loneliness
Conversely, you may have felt especiallyisolated and alone during the holidays.
Maybe you had to work long hours, couldnt afford to travel, or chose to be alone.
Stress
Yet another potential reason for feeling the post-holiday blues is stress.
After so much stimulation, your return to reality might involve even more to catch up on.
Thus, the stress continues.
While you might have enjoyed holiday time, it disrupted your routine and you really didnt have much rest.
Remember that emotions during and after the holiday period might be especially heightened.
If a loved one recently died, you might be sad and grieving.
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Give Yourself Time
Give yourself more time.
This means giving yourself additional time for everything from unpacking to catching up on the mail.
Schedule a day or two as catch-up time.
Use this as a buffer before returning to theregular routine.
Connect With Others
Change your mood by limiting social media.
Talk to people by phone or in person instead.
Communicate that youre feeling down.
Tell family and close friends what youre going through.
They might be helpful.
Take Care of Yourself
Be nice to yourself.
Cut yourself some slack and administer self-care.
Self-care is important when you are feeling down.
Rule Out Seasonal Affective Disorder
Find out if youre suffering fromseasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is a recurring depressive disorder during seasons of more darkness.
A recent study found adding exercise and going to the gym can effectively treat SAD.
It can be helpful to decompress with someproven stress management strategies.
Its natural that after all the excitement and busyness of the holidays, youd come down off the highs.
If you are struggling mildly with these after-holiday blues, try some of the suggested remedies above.
Youll probably be able to shake off these blahs, cheer up and get on with the new year.
But if these feelings persist, it might be something else.
Those tackling loneliness, depression, and grief may have a difficult time during the holidays.
The spill-over effect after the holidays may exacerbate the situation.
If you cant shake these feelings,seek out the help of a professional therapist.
Your therapist can evaluate your symptoms, make a diagnosis, and provide treatments that can help.
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