'Tis the Season to Feel Stressed

There's no doubt the holiday season brings extra stress, unrealistic expectations and memories which can all serve as springboards for the holiday blues.  

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64 percent of people with a diagnosed mental illness report that the holidays make their symptoms worse.  In addition to the extra stress, there's the decreased sunlight during the fall and winter months, changes in sleep patterns, diet changes due to holiday related food and alcohol intake, family obligations and dynamics, the inability to access social supports and the over-commercialization of holidays.

Winneshiek Medical Center clinical psychologist Bridgette Hensley recommends concentrating on making good choices each day, including setting reasonable goals and expectations for holiday activities, setting a financial budget for the holidays, avoiding impulse spending by creating a shopping list and "sleeping on" any big purchases, taking time to yourself and remembering the reason for the season.