“When we think of the holidays, we think of fun, lots of homemade food, time with family, kids playing and opening gifts. We think of Christmas, Kwanza, and Hanukkah.
We don’t often think about the dark side of December.
Some of you might be shocked by this. Some of you may not want to hear it because it will tarnish your visions of the happy holidays.
But, we need to hear this, see this and talk about this.
December carries two dark components to its month.
One of them is depression.
The days are short with limited time for sun and the cold nights are long. It’s easy to stay dormant and remain cooped up indoors where it is warm and safe.
Seasonal depression is real. According to Psychiatry, “about 5% of adults have seasonal depression.” Chemicals in the brain react to the decrease in daylight and sunlight.
Here are some signs of seasonal depression:
-feeling sad or low mood
-sleeping too much or more tired than usual
-loss of energy or reduced desire to engage in activities
-increase in appetite
-difficulty focusing on tasks
If you or anyone that you know is having a hard time, please know that you are not alone.
Please talk to someone that you can trust. Talk to a therapist or counselor. Talk with your primary healthcare provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, etc.).
If you or anyone that you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide hotline.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Your mental health matters.
The other dark thing about the month of December is the dreadful topic…death.
December is one of the deadliest months of the year.
According to the American Heart Association, “more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than any other time of the year.”
This is eery…as the year comes to an end, so do people’s lives.
Here one day and gone the next.
Why does death occur so much during December?
We let the stress of the holidays get to us. We stay up late to go to the holiday social gatherings, finish the tasks to prepare for the holiday, wrap those last minute gifts. We rush around to finish our list of holiday-related errands. We force ourselves to attend events or see people that we may not want to see.
That nosy family member that makes your blood boil by asking you every nagging personal question possible all night long.
“When are you getting married?”
“When are you having your next kid?”
“How come you haven’t updated your house yet?”
“You look different. What have you been doing?“
We put pressure on ourselves to make the holidays perfect. We stress over the finances of the holidays. The gift buying, outfits, event hosting, and travel expenses can add up. We may also be caregivers for elderly family and friends so we are juggling their needs too.
We don’t get enough rest. We burn the candle at both ends with early mornings and late nights to prepare and celebrate the holidays. Consistent lack of sleep makes us more prone to heart-related issues.
We don’t eat as healthy around the holidays. We may grab more takeout as we are cramming the hours to prepare everything for the holidays. We eat more of our favorite homemade Christmas cookies and other baked goods to celebrate the season. The scrumptious holiday food tends to be big portions loaded with high in fat, carbs and sugar. Buttery biscuits. Macaroni and cheese. Lasagna. Ham drizzled with salt and sugar. You know, the good stuff.
“The weather is colder. The cold air constricts or tightens the blood vessels which makes it harder for blood to flow through our vessels.” This increases the risk of blockages of the vessels and potential heart attacks. The American Heart Association sheds light on how the cold air really does affect our bodies.
Guess which days are the deadliest for heart attacks?
Christmas Day and the day after Christmas (also Kwanza)….
This is quite the wake up call…
These two holidays can literally be one of the happiest and worst days of many people’s lives.
Some things are out of our control, but what can we do about it?
Listen to our bodies and take care of ourselves.
If you aren’t feeling like yourself, please call your primary care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, etc.).
If you have any of the following, call 9-1-1
-severe chest pain
-chest pain that extends to your neck, arm, jaw or back
-trouble breathing
-sudden changes to your vision
-severe headache that won’t improve
The reality is that your life could depend on it.
Get some rest. Set boundaries by saying “no” to attending that event or buying one more gift when you really don’t want to add one more thing to your already full plate.
Speaking of full plates, enjoy the tasty holiday food but scoop out some fruits and vegetables onto your plate. Moderation is key. Make sure you’re drinking water. Swap out a sugary drink for a water bottle.
Go for a walk. Play outside with the kids. Engage in some kind of physical activity during your day (dancing, Zumba, strength-training, ice-skating, stretching, yoga, etc.). The important thing is to find an activity that you can enjoy doing. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it fun.
Relax! Take a bubble bath. Get your hair and nails done. Read a book. Meditate. Listen to music. Snuggle with your pet.
Take a deep breath. Slow down. Take time in your December day for you.
–Rael Thymes ©️
Sources for this Post
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