| Virtually everyone endures the holiday blues to some degree every year. They’re not always recognizable, but they are a very real and pervasive phenomenon. Psychologists describe this phenonmenon as a situational stress reaction related to social demands, unmet expectations and biological stressors, such as lack of sleep.
Some researchers aptly note that the holiday season has the great potential for being associated with negative anniversary reactions: The lengthy holiday season can coincide with significant and unfortunate events, such as divorce or a family death.
Social pressures that encourage the holiday blues can be especially intense for singles. One scientific study found that 38 percent of men contemplate terminating a relationship rather than face the task of choosing a really good gift for their partners. Furthermore, TRUE.com’s comprehensive research on the Valentine’s Day blues found that both men and women are affected – regardless of whether they are in a committed relationship.
It’s also important to note that the signs of the holiday blues are not limited to depressive feelings. The disparate symptoms and the variability in the intensity of these symptoms can lead individuals to believe that they are merely experiencing a collection of unrelated and inconvenient emotions. The fact is that the negative thoughts and feelings are related. Below are some examples of the signs of the holiday blues, in order of severity:
• You can think about a problem for hours and still not feel it is resolved.
• You feel lonely.
• You focus on upsetting situations and events happening in your life.
• Everything you do feels like an effort.
• Restless sleep.
• You feel that people dislike you.
• You talk less than usual.
• You are indecisive.
• Feeling fearful.
• Do not feel like eating.
• Strong awareness of how your body feels (racing heart, dryness in mouth).
• Trembling in hands.
• Breathing difficulty.
The bottom line is that this time of year brings about a mixture of depression, anxiety and fatigue. It’s easy to disregard this mixture, because it’s typically interspersed among more upbeat moods. Individuals with the holiday blues can also have periods when they agree with statements like "I feel hopeful about the future," "I am happy," and "I enjoy life."
While normal, dampened moods can become a problem when they outweigh more upbeat moods and when those dampened moods interfere with a person’s daily life. Indeed, failing to recognize the holiday blues for what they are can actually exacerbate the problem.
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