The holiday blues are rough for a lot of people, and if you’ve experienced significant changes or loss in November or December, the effect can be magnified. Below is an excerpt from a recent article from NewsAndTribune.com on this topic. If you’re in Northeastern Ohio and have experienced a significant change or loss that is affecting your mental health this holiday season, we hope you’ll reach out.
For some who have experienced a major life change — loss of a loved one, divorce or loss of employment or home — the holidays can cause magnification of some issues.
Lifespring Health Systems CEO Terry Stawar talks about some potential causes of holiday blues, how individuals, friends and family can help and when to seek professional help.
EXPERIENCING LOSS
Stawar said that losing a loved one is probably one of the most traumatic things that can be heightened by the holidays, although it can certainly happen with more minor, but still impactful, changes.
“I think it happens pretty frequently, especially if it’s the first holiday after a major trauma like the loss of a loved one,” he said. “People tend to get into very strong routines over the holidays; they like to stick to their traditions for the most part and when there’s something that disrupts it in any way, it can be uncomfortable for a lot of people. It affects all of their rituals and routines and really points out the loss and makes it much more severe.”