With the pressure to give gifts, decorate and entertain, the “most wonderful time of the year” doesn’t live up to its billing for many people. In fact, the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, is one of the most common times of the year for anxiety and depression.
Daniel Lieberman, GW professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, talks about the “holiday blues” and how to cope with them.
Q: Why do people tend to feel particularly stressed or depressed this time of year?
A: People often have very high expectations for the holidays, including what they need to accomplish in terms of entertaining and gift giving. Not only can buying gifts pose financial stress, but there’s also typically a lot of anxiety over what to give and how much is appropriate to spend.
Another source of stress for many people is feelings that they are not enjoying the holidays enough. People tend to feel like they need to live up to a memory of the past. The disparity between what is often an idealized memory and someone’s current experience can lead to emotions of guilt and sadness.
Q: How common are “the blues” this time of year?
A: It’s rare for people to say they feel great during the holidays. Usually the people who are happiest are those who love to entertain and decorate.
Since there’s such a strong emphasis on family and togetherness during the holidays, people who are alone, away from home or have suffered a loss are particularly vulnerable to feelings of depression.
Q: What are the symptoms of the holiday blues?
A: People often experience what we call low mood or anhedonia, an inability to experience happiness. Fatigue, anxiety and low self-esteem are other symptoms. These symptoms tend to improve as the new year begins and people resume their normal routines.
Q: What symptoms might be a cause for concern or indication that a depression is more severe?
A: Any time feelings of depression make it hard for people to do their daily activities, it may be a sign of clinical depression, rather than just holiday blues. If getting through the day requires a great deal of extra effort or if certain things like studying, cleaning or bill paying just can't be done, that's a sign that a medical evaluation can be helpful. Also, things like uncontrollable crying, feelings of despair, low self-esteem or thoughts of death indicate that something more serious than just holiday blues is going on.
Q: How can people feel better?
A: It’s important to have reasonable expectations. People should not expect to feel euphoric all season.
For people who have religious beliefs, it’s a good time to emphasize those beliefs. Doing something for others, like volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen, can also be a way to lift spirits.
It’s helpful to compare notes with friends and family members. It’s not uncommon for people to feel like everyone else is happy except them. Realizing others share the same anxiety about the holidays can go a long way toward easing feelings of isolation and self-doubt.
The University Counseling Center offers individual and group sessions to students. GW faculty and staff are eligible for confidential psychological services through the university’s Faculty/Employee Assistance Program.