HERE COMES STRESS

Tips on how to manage craziness during this hectic holiday season

The holidays are often an opportunity for folks to spend time with family and participate in yearly traditions.

The holidays, however, can also be a stressful time for some and can be the cause of depression and anxiety.

“Obviously people who have suffered with depression, or are currently suffering, will be susceptible to feeling depressed,” said Diana Santantonio, psychologist and director of Psych & Psych Services, a mental health and chemical dependency treatment center in Elyria. “People who have dealt with depression fortunately

“People, with their high expectations, create a fantasy version of how events are going to play out.” — Diana Santantonio, psychologist and director of Psych & Psych Services

have the skills to deal with it and know what they’re dealing with.”

Santantonio said the time change can be a cause of depression this time of year.

“Depression can often be triggered by light, or lack there of,” she said. “The winter months bring short days and fewer hours of sunlight. The lack of sunlight can cause depression in some people. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder and it isn’t directly linked to the holidays, but is a cause of why people are depressed this time of year.”

Santantonio said people’s expectations are often too high for the holidays.

“People tend to over idealize what their holidays are going to be and how they’re going to go,” she said. “Expectations often affect anything that we go into doing.”

Santantonio said the expectation people have will prevent them from enjoying what actually could be a good holiday.

“People, with their high expectations, create a fantasy version of how events

are going to play out,” she said. “This is especially seen in women who try balancing house cleaning with meals and finding the perfect presents. People should keep everything in reality and think reasonably about what is going to happen.”

Santantonio said people will be OK this holiday season if they have reasonable expectations.

“Plan ahead, don’t let events creep up on you,” she said. “Ask people for help if you feel overburdened. You shouldn’t try to take everything on by yourself.”

Nord Center Executive Director Eric Morse said the holidays tend to trigger depression.

“People who have had underlying issues tend to relive them during the holidays,” he said. “People who have experienced a loss of any sort during the year, whether it be a breakup or death, are going to feel bad as they experience their first holiday without that person.”

Morse said depression is also triggered by looking at other people’s holiday experiences.

“You might see other people are having a good time,” he said. “You see those people and think you need to feel the same way, and you wonder why you don’t feel

like that. Don’t let others affect you, try to block that out as best you can.”

Morse said the holidays, however, don’t cause depression like people think.

“Everything that I have mentioned happens to those who are dealing with depression or have an underlining issue,” he said. “There isn’t evidence that backs up people being more depressed during the holidays. We don’t see an increase in hospital visits or people reaching out over the help line during the holidays. It’s kind of a misconception. People usually feel better during the holidays”

Morse said people shouldn’t try to beat depression on their own.

“Reach out to people if you need help,” he said. “We have people who are here to help. Even if it’s something that you don’t feel is severe we still have people that can talk with you over the phone if you need someone to talk to.”

Morse said depressed individuals shouldn’t be stagnant.

“People need to keep moving, keep fighting against whatever you’re depressed about,” he said. “If you get a call to go to a party, go to the party. Depression comes from stopping and sitting alone.”

METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION