Tis the season to be jolly

Tis the season to be jolly - Fa la............. or is it? Ever heard of Seasonal Blues?

Nearly 25 million Americans get depressed when the weather turns cold but are able to get up in the morning a go to work and continue their daily routines. But according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, another 10 million people are so upset by the change in the weather that they become quite dysfunctional and fall into a clinical depression - a condition that is now diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) The depression usually starts in the fall of the year (October or November) and lasts until spring when the light brightens and lengthens. This depression is usually accompanied by craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods, weight gain, lethargy, and irritability. Sometimes this depression can be so crippling that the person is unable to work and to care for their families.

So many people suffer from SAD and don't realize that shedding a little light into their lives can brighten up their perspective.

Sad and gloomy emotions can emerge at the onset of any holiday or special occasion. Mother's day, Father's day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, the holidays, the beginning and ending of school - all can bring on the Seasonal Blues because they remind us of failed relationships, family strife, time passing, unfulfilled dreams and dashed hopes, or a time that someone we loved died.

The religious world celebrates the birth of Jesus, the secular world waits for Santa to come. Meanwhile the merchants capitalize on the best of both worlds for monetary gain. The hustle and bustle of shopping, the long lines, heavy traffic, high prices, the lack of money, gift giving, cleaning and decorating and lots of cooking, all add to the downside of the Christmas Holidays.

We can learn to cope with this by being aware of our seasonal blues and recognizing that it is normal to have these yucky feelings at certain times of the year. There are steps to take to reduce the stress that accompanies the many seasons in your life.

Get organized so you don't leave everything for the last minute.
Make a Christmas list and shop before the season begans.
Allow someone else to share some of your responsibilities.
Loneliness causes stress, get involved with church, children, volunteer at a soup kitchen, wraps gifts at the Salvation Army.
Don't expect Christmas to be the same as when you were a kid, whether good or bad. If you crave the past, get out the photo albums.
Put on a happy face and remember:

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

The least you need to know.

Some 25 million Americans get the Seasonal Blues, and another 10 million have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is 4 times more common among women than men, but it's the easiest depression to treat.
As little as 30 minutes per day of sitting under a light box can make a difference in 60 to 80 percent of SAD patients.
SAD symptoms include extreme fatigue, inability to focus, having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, carbohydrate craving, weight gain or loss, and feeling of depression.
Keeping warm during cold months, vacationing in sunny environments, exercising outdoors or indoors, and managing stress and other cures for the winter blahs.
Holiday Blues, a form of Seasonal Blues, are common as people try to do too much in too little time and have unrealistic expectations that can't be met.
Establishing action strategies for every month can help you beat the blues whenever they hit.