Holidays' end may bring on blues

     By Leanne Mieszala
     View staff writer
      The presents have been opened and the last of the decorations have been taken down signaling the end of the holiday season.
      For some, this ending marks the beginning of what's referred to as the post-holiday blues.
      Although they may seem similar, Dr. Charles Cooley, psychologist at the University Medical Center, believes it's important for individuals to distinguish between clinical depression and post-holiday despondency.
      "Clinical depression involves a lot of serious symptoms that require some type of counselling and/or medication," Cooley said. "Post-holiday blues involves an emotional letdown, a feeling of malaise, a feeling of discontentment or a feeling of things not being quite right after the holidays."
      The reasons for this type of despair can be attributed to several factors.
      "During this time of the year, there are behavioral changes due to increased activities prior to and during the holidays," he said. "For example, people are busy sending out cards, doing a lot of planning, shopping, wrapping, organizing and decorating."
      The holidays are also a very hectic time and can alter a person's daily routine.
      "If they exercise, they may let that slip due to time constraints and may even forego some of their leisure activities they enjoy doing as a result of increased holiday commitments," Cooley said.
      Cooley suggests reinstating those stress-relieving patterns and routines that a person has established throughout the year.
      Up to and including the holidays, Cooley said he believes there's an increase in social interaction, meaning individuals may not have any time to be alone.
      "Sometimes there's a real need for people to spend some time by themselves in solitude and quiet in order to recharge their batteries," he said.
      One of the remedies Cooley proposes to alleviate the loss of increased contact with relatives and friends is to keep those relationships alive through the year.
      Said Cooley: "A good way to stay in touch is through e-mail. I believe almost everyone has access to e-mail, and this is a way for individuals to contact people instantly and get immediate gratification."
      From an emotional standpoint, the season's end can present people with a feeling of being let down and having nothing to look forward to.
      "Because of everything that people have been doing throughout the holidays, there's a real fatigue factor involved," Cooley explained. "People are tired and are both emotionally and physically drawn after the holiday season."
      Cooley pointed out the increase in alcohol consumption during holiday get-togethers also can be a contributing factor to post-seasonal depression.
      "While people view alcohol intake as providing them with an excitement or making them feel good, the more true affects of alcohol is that it's a depressant," Cooley said.
      As for clinical depression, Cooley said a person can be in this state without realizing it. Similarly, after the holidays an individual could experience a case of the blues and not know it.
      Cooley stressed the main thing for people to understand is this is a normal type of behavior that occurs with some people, and it's only temporary.
      "There are practical strategies you can utilize to take care of your own mental well-being," he said.
      For information, call 341-8555.