Every year the holidays can be a joyous time of reflection, family gatherings, gifts, and
revelry; however, for many of us they can be anything but jolly.
For some, the holidays remind us of loved ones not present. Others may have
challenging family relationships and experience anxiety as a result. Perhaps this time of
year gives us an excuse for us to overindulge in food, alcohol, or other addictive
substances. Many of us are strapped for cash and it might make gift giving tough. The
reasons are as numerous as they are personal. Grief, anxiety, troubled relationships,
and addictive behaviors can be triggered by the holidays and send us into a spiral of
depressive thoughts, or even the contemplation of self-harm.
Let me be clear, the latter is an extreme example. Despite many articles on the subject
and popular belief, the holiday season does not result in a higher rate of suicide. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s data on suicides dispels this myth for our
country and even shows us that December has the lowest number of suicides of the
year. Still, it can be a rough time for many of us for a myriad of reasons from long, dark,
cold days to tense family gatherings.
As much as society can pressure us, we don’t have to keep calm and carry on. The
angst many of us feel is real, so what can we do to combat negative feelings during the
holiday season? Maybe we can reach out to our support groups – positive family
members, supportive friends, and confidants. We can keep our habits in check and set
limits on holiday spending. Truly, your friends want you to be present and happy in their
lives more than they want an expensive gift. More importantly, we should be gentle with
ourselves when our best intentions don’t go to plan.
We can try to make more time for ourselves. Don’t give up your exercise routine. If you
don’t have one, daily gentle walks have been shown to have a positive effect on both
your mental and physical health. Give yourself permission to limit stress by politely
declining a few holiday gatherings. You don’t have to overextend yourself to please
everyone, and, for those of us who are enduring addiction, the last thing you want to do
is backslide over the holidays. Alcohol consumption is the greatest in the month of
December, particularly between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. It plays an
important role in depression and suicidal ideation and can exacerbate depressive
feelings. Alcohol has been involved in 29 percent of suicides.
Other things you can do: Keep a loving eye on your friends, neighbors and family
members who face emotional challenges. Remember those who have lost loved ones
this year. Check in on those who struggle. Put yourself in their shoes and do what you
can to help them through challenging times. Perhaps you yourself are experiencing
holiday depression or contemplating self-harm. Please, call for help. A number of
resources are available to help you. All you must do is ask your provider, counselor,
pastor, psychologist, or call the hotlines listed below:
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
Crisis Line: 1-844-HELP4WV
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
Don’t go down the road of depression alone, and don’t let those you love travel that dark
path by themselves either.
— Dr. Steven Eshenaur, D.O., M.B.A., is the executive director and health officer of the
Kanawha-Charleston Health Department.