 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Emme Tomimbang: Making Her Mark |
| The veteran television broadcaster talks frankly about her personal life and amazing career. |
Back to School |
| Serving as teachers’ aides in the classroom,
senior volunteers are making a big difference in the lives of Hawaii’s children. |
COLUMN:
Beat the Holiday Blues
Once
again the holidays are almost upon us; ’tis the season to be
jolly, right? Not for everyone. For some people, the holidays arouse
feelings of sadness, anxiety or even clinical depression.
There are many reasons for this. Isolation, strained family relationships or memories of deceased loved ones don’t jibe with the perception that the holiday season is a happy time. Some people attempt to attend every party, arrange travel plans and shop ’til they drop—a frenzied schedule that results in fatigue, tension and irritability. Unrealistic expectations, financial constraints or the commercialization of the holidays are additional factors that cause distress. Finally, the lack of sunlight during the winter hours may contribute to the dark mood of those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
There are, however, several things we can do to prevent and cope with the holiday blues. Following are a few of them.
• Set realistic goals. Organize your time, pace yourself, and be sensible about what you can and cannot do.
• Take proper care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet and be sure you get enough rest, relaxation and exercise.
• Prioritize. Ask yourself whether your children, spouse and friends really want material objects more than your peace of mind and the great company you provide when you are not stressed and depressed.
• Do not expect the holiday season to solve problems; it will not prevent sadness or loneliness. Accept your feelings and do not be hard on yourself if you are not in a festive mood. If you have recently lost someone who was dear to you, talk to people you trust about it, let them know what your needs are and graciously accept their help.
Thomás Cummings is the president of the Hawaii Psychological Association and a psychologist at the Waimanalo Health Center (259-7948). For a free referral, call the Hawaii Psychological Association at 521-8995.
• Limit drinking; excessive alcohol consumption increases feelings of depression.
• Know what your spending limit is and stick to it. Enjoy free activities and events such as viewing decorated houses, going caroling, or attending concerts at churches and shopping malls.
• If you cannot be with loved ones, make plans to socialize with other supportive and caring people in your life.
• Do not compare the present with some ideal past; life brings inevitable changes and you should focus on the positive aspects of each stage in your life.
Many people experience feelings of sadness during the holidays, but for some it can escalate into full-blown clinical depression. Roughly 19 million American adults suffer from depression every year, making it the most common mental illness in the country. A family member in one in two households will experience depression during the course of his life.
How do we know when feelings of sadness have dropped into the depression zone? Look for these symptoms:
• An overwhelming and prolonged sense of helplessness or hopelessness.
• Persistent feelings of guilt or worthlessness and negative interpretations of others’ intentions.
• Excessive irritability with your friends, children and/or spouse.
• Difficulty fulfilling everyday responsibilities such as the inability to complete work projects, homework assignments or household tasks.
• Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed, including sex.
• Insomnia, change in appetite, or excessive fatigue or confusion that lasts more than two weeks.
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment such as headaches, digestive problems or chronic pain.
Ask yourself if you are displaying any of these symptoms and seek assessments from your physician, close friends, family members and others who know you well. Licensed psychologists also can help you and your family manage this serious illness. Treatment involves psychotherapy, and in some cases medication may be needed to restore healthy sleep patterns and help you function in the workplace.
With professional, confidential support, many people not only have endured the difficult challenges brought on by depression, they have experienced personal growth that has profoundly changed their views and given them a deeper appreciation for life.
Sadly, many people suffering from depression do not seek help even though it is a treatable condition. Some may feel that it is embarrassing or a sign of weakness to ask for help. This is particularly common among men and certain cultural groups who hold the unrealistic ideal that people should stoically bear all hardships.
It is one thing to be strong, but another to deny that you or a loved one are suffering from depression. A Lakota Indian saying goes, “Gentleness is true strength.” Someone who is clinically depressed needs patience, love, kindness, empathy and the opportunity to share their feelings with a highly trained, nonjudgmental expert. If you think you are experiencing any symptoms of depression that have been outlined in this article or know someone who is, please get the help that’s needed—whatever the season may be.
This column provides general medical information only; it is not intended to replace recommendations you would receive from your doctor after undergoing a thorough physical examination.