[dar-list] yearly Mental Health reminder - Your fire, your soul

[Sharon G]

Today is the shortest day of the year or the winter solstice. The sun
is at the furthest most point of the earth from the sun in the
northern hemisphere. More than that, it's the first day of winter.
Winter is not always an easy time for everyone and furthermore neither
is the winter holiday season. Its also a ripe time for the Winter
Blues. The Winter Blues can be caused by many things.  The idealistic
view of the holidays, the stress of activities, and the many
expectations ( real or imagined) placed upon individuals are
contributing factors to the Holiday Blues. It's also about the notion
that at this time of year, life is supposed to resemble a Hallmark
card with happy families and friends gathered by the fire. And very
few families are Hallmark like. People who are not happy with their
lives, someone who has lost their job, who doesn't have many friends
or family or is a single parent, or who have too many activities on
their plate may suffer from the Holiday Blues.  Often times, holidays,
especially Christmas, highlight grief. Newly divorced or divorced
individuals, widows or widowers, and those away from their family at
Christmas have added stress.

Symptoms of holiday blues: Anxiety: -insomnia, disrupted sleep
-tension in body, headaches overeating forgetfulness
-irritability/jumpiness -difficulty concentrating/distraction Tips and
what you can do to stop it -Pace yourself, you can't please everyone
-Remember, the best gift you can give your friends and family is a
happy, healthy you -If you're feeling overwhelmed, talk about it.
Express anxieties and find support -Find an outlet so you can feel
relief from the burden. Try physical winter activities like
tobogganing, skating or a walk for some fresh air. It's good for
mental health -Lower your expectations, do only what you can handle
-Make family traditions around Christmas tailored to your individual
life and family -Make the holiday enjoyable for you according to your
values, what's important and activities you enjoy. This will make the
holiday fulfilling for you or your family -Redefine what Christmas
means to you - forget the hype -Don't over spend or over eat - the
last thing you need is to worry about dieting and debt in January -If
you have a friend or co-worker who you know will be alone, is
depressed or hasn't many holiday plans, extend an invitation to a
social activity, reach out -Volunteer - give back. It puts life and
the true meaning of the Christmas season into perspective

Holiday Blues can also be Seaonal Affect Disorder. The typical
symptoms of SAD include depression, lack of energy, increased need for
sleep, a craving for sweets and weight gain. Symptoms begin in the
fall, peak in the winter and usually resolve in the spring. Some
individuals experience great bursts of energy and creativity in the
spring or early summer. Susceptible individuals who work in buildings
without windows may experience SAD-type symptoms at any time of year.
Some people with SAD have mild or occasionally severe periods of mania
during the spring or summer. If the symptoms are mild, no treatment
may be necessary. If they are problematic, then a mood stabilizer such
as Lithium might be considered. There is a smaller group of
individuals who suffer from summer depression.

Today is the shortest day of the year. Starting tomorrow the days get
longer, the sun gets brighter.  Managing the holiday season is hard
but also can be liberating.  Finding your fire, your soul or the thing
that will get your through the holiday season, even if that means not
going to the party or the dinner or getting that last present. Or
maybe finding a way to get a little more "light" this year.

Happy Solstice



-- 
Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you're getting a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night
paul simon

sage advisor, does weary mean wiser
dar williams