{"id":19980,"date":"2025-09-17T11:32:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=19980"},"modified":"2025-09-17T11:32:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:32:48","slug":"stress-depression-and-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/17\/stress-depression-and-the-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress, Depression and the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although the holidays are supposed to be a time full of joy, good cheer and optimistic hopes for a new year, many people experience seasonal \u201cblues.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s important to know is that there are steps you can take to help beat the blues this holiday season.<\/p>\n

The \u201choliday blues\u201d can be caused by many factors: increased stress and fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization and the inability to be with one\u2019s family.<\/p>\n

The increased demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to these feelings of\u00a0tension<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Even people who do not become depressed can develop other stress reactions during the holidays, such as\u00a0headaches<\/a>, excessive drinking, overeating and difficulty sleeping.<\/p>\n

Although many people become depressed during the holiday season, even more respond to the excessive stress and anxiety once the holidays have passed.<\/p>\n

This post-holiday letdown can be the result of emotional disappointments experienced during the preceding months, as well as the physical reactions caused by excess fatigue and stress.<\/p>\n

There are several ways to identify potential sources of holiday\u00a0depression<\/a>\u00a0that can help you head off the blues:<\/strong><\/p>\n