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Christmas festivities are approaching, a joyous, familiar and colorful time. Although this is what it means for most, for people with depression it can be really overwhelming.
In fact, the holidays themselves can be particularly stressful, said Elizabeth Ochoa, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. in New York to Healthline.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (USA), approximately 1 in 10 adults in the country report having depression.
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2007 to 2007 show that almost 8% of people older than 11 years (6% of men and 10 % of women) report symptoms of current depression. Women have higher rates of depression than men in all age groups.
In addition, the American Anxiety and Depression Association states that At any given time, 3-5% of people suffer from major depression. The lifetime risk for depression is about 12 %.
People who are depressed often feel anxious or sad. They can say that they are tired and lack energy.
“If you are depressed, you will have a harder time handling the demands of the holiday season than someone who is not depressed,” Ochoa said.
If you were diagnosed with depression, Ochoa shared these simple tips:
Learn to say “no”
Holidays are a time of year when people expect fun, togetherness, and spending time with family and friends. Sometimes it’s hard for people to say no to invitations, Ochoa said. You don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or appear unable to make it to the party.
However, you may want to limit your engagements so you don’t overload yourself with social activities.
For this reason, Ochoa recommends control your rhythm and find a level of comfort between the time you spend alone, where you relax and recharge your batteries, and the time you share with other people, where you should socialize.
Stay on budget
Money is another source of holiday stress, but the recommendation to honest your budget and avoid unnecessary expenses. “People have expectations about giving gifts and spending money,” Ochoa said. They worry about whether their gift is good enough, whether it’s the right kind of gift, and about the number of people they need to buy gifts for.
Manage your time
As Ochoa advises, you should prioritize your activities and your time. Set realistic expectations of what you can commit to, in terms of parties and other events.
Leverage your social network
Friends and family are an important means of social support, helping you feel connected to a community and with other people.
And although this time of sharing can be very joyful, it can also be stressful, depending on the type of relationship that is have. Try to spend more time with people who are easy to be around.
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