Holiday Blues and Seniors

The holiday season is supposed to be a season of happiness and joy, nestled in the loving bosom of family and friends. It is a wonderful picture, but for many seniors it is far cry from reality. For many, feelings of sadness, loneliness and isolation are their holiday companions.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Harry Croft recently. Dr. Croft is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in San Antonio TX. He is also Director of Education for Covenant Behavioral Health. Interestingly Dr. Croft tells me that he doesn't see more people coming to see him during the holidays, contrary to popular belief. In fact his office visits have traditionally dropped during the last 2 weeks of the year. He then has an increase of patients seeking his help after the holiday season is over. Many of them tell him that they felt depressed and sad during the holidays, but hid those feeling from friends and family. They don't want to worry family by displaying these feeling or try to deny them.
There are many factors that contribute to those feelings of sadness that seniors may feel. Many seniors are widowed, have lost close friends as they age, are separated from family and may be suffering from ill health. They may feel guilty for have feelings of sadness which may in turn intensify those feelings of sadness.
Dr. Croft also shared with me many of the strategies he gives to his patients to help them cope with the holiday blues. Using these suggestions will help to prevent or lessen those feelings of sadness and help to restore the joy of the season.

• Don't isolate yourself. If you can't be with family, invite some close friends over to share the holidays.
• Volunteer your time. Many churches or civic groups would be glad of your help. Helping others is a great way to forget your own troubles.
• Try to avoid alcohol. Many seniors develop alcohol dependence after retirement or loss of a loved one. Alcohol is a depressant and will intensify those feelings of sadness.
• Watch your finances. Most seniors are on a fixed income. Set a budget for gift giving and stick to it. Don't feel guilty if you can't afford to by those grandchildren an expensive gift, its you they will remember not the gifts. Overspending will cause worry over bills after the holidays are over.
• Don't deny or try to hide your feelings of sadness. Very often just being able to share your feelings with someone can help To help cope with post holiday letdown, spend some time organizing and mounting photographs taken during the holiday. Take time to relive the fun and friendship.

These same coping strategies can be useful for seniors suffering from clinical "major" depression as well.

From Marian Anne Eure, former About.com Guide