It’s supposed to be “The
Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, so why do the holidays bring the blues?
Over my 20+ years of experience in the Social Work Field, I have noticed that the holidays, however joyous they may be, can also bring moments of sadness. The sadness, the blues or whatever you call it, can originate from a variety of causes. One of the most marked causes that I have observed is that the holidays are presented as to be somewhat “magical”, a period of peace, community connection with neighbours and family, excitement, mystery, reflection, and so much more.
Unfortunately, this is simply not how many people experience the
holidays.
There are several sources of holiday tension, including: the
stress of organizing for families, shopping, financial stress, ongoing tensions
within families, missing loved ones, reflecting on past conflicts, the
perception that others are enjoying life more fully, guilt about things done or
left undone over the past years, feelings of isolation, feelings of failure for
breaking diets, and the list goes on.
The reality is that each and every one of us feels one or more of these
stressors to some degree throughout the year, but this is accentuated over the
holidays. The vision of the “ideal holidays” and the realities of life can be
experienced as a stark contrast, highlighting our unmet needs.
At some point the unmet needs become predominate enough that
it may impede our ability to fully enjoy our lives, and the holidays. To complicate things, we may not always be sure
of what those needs are. For example, we
might be aware that something or someone bothers us, but we can’t put our
finger on the reason why
Hypnosis can help people discover and work through the unmet
needs.
In fact, it is an excellent tool
to help with all of the sources of tension quoted above, including financial
planning, resolving guilt and so on. Hypnosis for relaxation can also provide
you a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday rush. That being said, with or without the use of
hypnosis, positive self-care, however you find it, is extremely important,
especially if you are experiencing the holiday blues.
Too many people say that they don’t have time to care for themselves.
They forget that if they do not take time to care for themselves, they will not
be able to fully care for others
It is strongly encouraged that everyone takes time to care
for themselves over the holidays.
It is important to spend a few moments to a make
a list of things you can do to take care of your financial, physical and social
health. This list may provide you with insights
into what you can do to help take care of yourself. For some, a wonderful massage can provide a
break away from the reality. Your diet can also impact your mood, so paying
attention to what you eat can help maintain positive mental health. Also, exercise is a source of mood-lifting
endorphins. Volunteering is a positive
way of giving back to while building a sense of community and making social
connections. Even making a new tradition for yourself and/or your family can be
a rewarding way to express your creative side! If you know that something will
be a source of stress, you can also plan ahead for healthy ways to cope and
prepare a scenario which will have positive results for you; this is known to
reduce stress
In conclusion, hypnosis can help a person cope with the
holiday blues. It is also important to plan for self-care, even if you don’t
experience the “holiday blues”.
The best
gift you can give to yourself is caring for yourself.
Do not forget that the Distress Centre of Ottawa
(613-238-3311) and Tel-aide Outaouais (819-775-3223/1-800-567-9699) offer help
if you need someone to speak with 365 days a year.
Many employers also offer Employee Assistance
Programs to offer support to their staff.
There are also several apps available for self-care including “calm”,
which can help you squeeze-in a few minutes of mindfulness, relaxation and
meditation.
I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday session
and truly hope that they are filled with joy, laughter and love. Also wishing
you a hypnotic New Year!
About the author
Derrick Barnes, RSW Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, uses
the latest techniques and evidence based research to help you focus
on reaching your goals. His approach combines coaching techniques,
solution-focused brief hypnotherapy and mindfulness. Even though Derrick
focuses on future successes and not past challenges, he will, upon request,
offer various other services such as past life regression or energy work.
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