Thanksgiving is over. The air starts to get colder, you’re eating leftover turkey, aisles of Walmart are completely covered in red merchandise and Mariah Carey is already popping in the radio.
The holidays are here.
You’re probably stressing about gifts, dinner options and guests. You might be relieved because you’ll have a couple of days off from school or work. You’re probably happy because you’re visiting family.
But you could also be sad.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) defines Holiday Blues as “temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holidays that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations or even memories that accompany the season.”
NAMI reports that approximately 24 percent of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse and 40 percent “somewhat” worse.”
“There are many causes of stress for people during this time, including financial, missing family or loved ones, and changes in routines. Students may feel the holiday blues more intensely due to the end of the semester, final exams, additional stress around grades and thinking about the future,” said Tina Akers, Associate Professor of Psychology.
Aubrey Bristow, a Music major, shared her perspective.
“I have holiday blues. I think, what causes it, for me at least, is that I grew up with my family having get-togethers and staying over at my cousins house, doing the ‘traditional’ family things, and now that’s just fizzled out. It’s more that I get really nostalgic around the holidays and realizing all of the ‘magic’ of Christmas has kind of faded away,” said Bristow.
Feeling down during the holidays can show up in different ways.
You might feel sad, anxious, irritable, or just simply overwhelmed. Maybe you’re having trouble sleeping, losing your appetite (or eating everything in sight), or struggling to focus on things you usually enjoy.
For some, the stress of holiday expectations can feel like too much to handle. While these feelings are often short-lived, it’s important to pay attention if they stick around or start getting in the way of your daily life, like making it hard to focus on school, hang out with friends, or even get out of bed.
Akers said self care is important during these times.
“Prioritize self-care during this time. Do something you enjoy and get good sleep, nutrition, and exercise. It is easy to forget caring of yourself when you are busy with studying, preparing for holidays, working, and other demands on your time.”
If you feel hopeless or like you can’t manage on your own, it’s a good idea to talk to someone. A counselor, a trusted adult, or even a hotline can be a big help in getting you through it.
Delta College has partnered with To Be Honest (tbh) to expand mental health support for students. You can access tbh through the MyDelta portal, where you can sign up to schedule a personal or group session with a mental health professional or explore a range of helpful resources such as mental health content and caring text support.
If you prefer to speak with someone in person, counseling appointments through Counseling Services and behavioral health support at the Health Center are also available. Counseling Center is located in the DeRicco Building and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also schedule an appointment online at Delta’s website.
For more tips and tools, check out Delta’s Health and Wellness webpage, Campus Well. Remember, help is always here when you need it.
