Got the Christmas Blues?
Christmas Blues?
'Tis the season to be jolly..... Or is it? Not everyone looks forward to Christmas and it can be a time that triggers emotional challenges.
Even if you’re surrounded by family, relations can be fraught and bring up old wounds. If life already feels lonely, Christmas often makes that so much worse - especially if it’s like everyone else is having all the fun.
Anyone who has lost a close family member, friend, or pet may be feeling their absence even more at Christmas.
For those who do enjoy the festive season, time off to mull things over, added to dark days and cold weather, can easily result in disappointment, anxiety, and hopelessness. The party season brings with it other potential stressors too, including alcohol, lack of sleep and increased financial strain. Not always a recipe for jolliness!
Season to be jolly?
It’s good to acknowledge these difficulties and seek support if the so-called festive season becomes especially bleak.
Here are some tips that might help:
Get Moving
Exercise ideally every day. Exercise is probably the easiest way to help alleviate low mood as it increases dopamine and norepinephrine. For all of us who overindulge over Christmas, our minds and bodies need the extra exercise to counterbalance any binge eating.
When Just Sitting on Your Butt Ain’t Helping
Fresh Air
It’s all too easy to stay slumped by the TV but this will not boost your mood. Getting outside, whatever the weather, will clean your lungs, lower your heart rate, increase energy levels and even improve your digestion.
Catch Those Rays
Get Outside
When the sun does come out, catch those rays on your face. Sunlight helps boost serotonin, giving us more energy, positivity, and focus. Even if you’re sitting by a sunny window, the sunlight on your retina triggers serotonin. If you struggle with darkness, try using a light box. This might also be a welcome gift for someone who finds the winter months difficult.
Watch your alcohol and food - Don’t forget the water! If your body is sluggish, your mood will be too.
Turn off TV adverts selling you an unrealistic ‘dream’ of Christmas.
Reach out to friends you know who may also be struggling.
Have the courage to say ‘no’ if events only make you feel worse.
Volunteer to cheer up others - so many people need extra support.
Take Vitamin D. Lack of this can lead to aches and low mood.
Smile and look up. The mind/body connection is powerful, and this alone can help shift a negative mood.
Where to go for help?
Just Talking - Talking to someone who listens can significantly ease loneliness, anxiety, or grief. This can be a friend or family member too...a listening ear is a powerfully healing gift!
Listening is a Gift
Hypnotherapy / Reiki – For longer-term help, hypnotherapy can work wonders to improve mood and may also kickstart a fresh mindset for 2024.
Healing Power of Reiki
Reiki will reboot your nervous system with a magic boost of energy - the perfect antidote to the Christmas blues.
‘Merry’ Christmas from Alison Scott Hypnotherapy
I work from my peaceful therapy room in Buckinghamshire
and online. Gift vouchers are available.
Contact Alison on 07989 535527.
Alison Scott Hypnotherapy