The holidays can be so wonderful! Lots of food and cheer going on around us, lovely decorations, and high expectations for seasonal entertainment. Whether you have a robust and jam-packed festivity or a quiet and meditative celebration, it may seem like the holiday spirit will last forever.
But then…January comes along. After the excitement of the New Year, many times we get what’s called the January Blues, the Post-holiday blues, the Winter Blues, or the January Blahs. Did you know that the third Monday in January is considered the most depressing day of the year and is known as Blue Monday? The days are shorter, colder, and darker, and we may still be feeling leftover stress from the holidays. We may experience sadness and even depression at this time.
While many times this is a temporary and hopefully brief condition, there is a type of depression that occurs when there is a change of seasons. The National Alliance on Mental Illness lists this as Major Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern (formerly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD). It is much more than having the blues – it affects aspects of your daily life, including how you feel and think. Ten to twenty percent of Americans get a mild form of the winter blues, but about 5% experience this disorder, which may need medical assistance. Those who have major depression and/or bipolar disorder may be at increased risk of seasonal affective disorder.
- What are some symptoms?
- Feeling sad or down most of the time.
- No interest in activities that you previously enjoyed.
- Low energy, fatigue.
- Sleeping too much.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Weight change.
- Feelings of hopelessness.
- What are some causes?
- Decreased sunlight.
- A drop in serotonin levels (brought on by lack of sunlight).
- Imbalance of melatonin levels, affecting sleep and mood.
- Family history.
- How to cope?
- First, recognize that you may have these January blues or Major Depressive Disorder with a Seasonal Pattern, and it can be natural for this time of year. It can be a legitimate health care condition that you can seek assistance for.
- Plan ahead if you have experienced this before, such as exercising, therapy, support groups, vacationing in a sunny spot during this time period.
- Increase sunlight exposure.
- And always seek medical care when needed.
Check out these resources for more information:
Home | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA
Help for Mental Illnesses - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (nih.gov)