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Christmas Blues | Spectrum Health

Christmas Blues, or Something More?

The stress of the Christmas and Holiday season often brings on feelings of sadness and depression for many people.

Financial stress, grief from missing loved ones, and more are common reasons for people to experience what we call the ‘Christmas Blues.’

For a lot of us, COVID-19 and 2020 have already brought on those feelings- and then tacked on aloneness, loss of motivation, and uneasiness on the top.

We are all sacrificing so much for the safety and well-being of others: our traditions will look different. Our holiday meals will look different. Hugs from our loved ones won’t happen. Many will inevitably experience amplified confusing and isolating feelings, making it hard to decipher if someone is experiencing the Christmas Blues or something more.

We must look around and take care of each other and ourselves.

Here are a few tips for beating the Holiday blues and looking out for loved ones:

  • Call someone you think maybe struggling or you haven’t heard from in a while;
  • Do something for your community or your neighbor that might make you feel good;
  • Find new ways to keep in contact with people you love, like video chat or send a good old fashion snail mail card;
  • Support someone you know who may be mourning the loss of a loved one and spending their first Christmas without them this year;
  • Take a few minutes to look around you and find things you are grateful for- this can take just a minute or less;
  • Open your mind to new traditions;
  • Take some time to get outside and enjoy the winter beauty.

Keeping in communication with loved ones seems to be a growing challenge: you could turn someone’s entire day around or stumble across a loved one who is suffering more than normal for the usual Christmas Blues.

If you or a loved one needs more support and care this year during the holidays and as we transition into a new year, call us today at Spectrum Health at 716-539-5500. We are here to help.

By Shannon Schwarberg, MS
Senior Program Manager of Special Project Development

Spectrum Health & Human Services

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