5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Depression

As the holidays approach each year, more and more people suffer from Holiday Depression.

Some experts blame it on factors relating to nutrition. Nutritional experts believe that depression is caused by the excessive sugar and fatty foods coursing through our bodies.

Other experts believe that depression is caused by the lack of natural sunlight that promotes a condition called SAD. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) SAD reduces the amounts of endorphins distributed in our brains. Experts in psychology maintain that many people look back over the year and see themselves as failures. Another year is behind you and your personal goals have not been achieved.

Whatever the reason you feel is the cause of your depression, the following 5 simple tips are guaranteed to help you reduce Holiday Depression.

1. Do not read newspapers.

Newspapers publish negative stories near the end of the year. Stories focused on death, destruction, doom and despair abound around the Holidays. During the week between Christmas and the New Year, stories highlighting the worst tragedies of the year appear daily until January.

Stop reading the newspaper during the holidays and reduce the negative input to your brain.

2. Turn off your television.

End of the year stories about hardship and violence overtake your senses during the Holidays.

When visitors come to your home, make sure you turn off your television and keep it off.

News television broadcasters are fighting for your holiday guests' attention as they promote despair, war, death and destruction with many headline news interruptions.

Television will diminish your festive holiday spirit.

3. Say good things about others

My Mother always says, "if you can't say anything nice about others, don't say anything at all."

However, when you find yourself in a conversation and a relative says, "Remember Uncle Phil?" " He was an alcoholic"

Respond with " yes, Uncle Phil was an alcoholic and he was the most charitable person, I have ever met."

Connect your friend's negative statement about Phil with a positive one.

4. Get physical exercise

People forget about exercise around the holidays. In most parts of the world, the weather is cold and the sky is dark. Make sure you are exercising daily and sending more oxygen to your brain cells.

The result of exercise will improve your health as well as your attitude.

5. Breathe deep and relax.

Practice the following breathing exercise to relax your body and mind.

Breathe deeply and relax. For 3 minutes each hour take a short mental vacation.

You can engage in this exercise while you are standing in the checkout line at the supermarket or purchasing holiday gifts. You can complete the exercise at home or at work.

Take three deep breathes and relax. As you inhale, concentrate on calm and peaceful thoughts.

As you exhale, concentrate on pushing any tension out of your lungs.

Focus on positive images of the Holidays. Focus on laughter, love, excitement and hope.

Reduce your Holiday Depression.

Enjoy your holidays!

About The Author

Wayne Perkins is a hypnotherapist and author of "How to Hypnotize Yourself Without Losing Your Mind."

Hypnotism Education: How to Hypnotize Other People

http://www.wayneperkins.net/

"My mission in life is to help you achieve your mission in life."

wayne@wayneperkins.net

Latest News


Personalized Holidays at Stein Eriksen Lodge
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
This holiday's ambitious gingerbread creation will be a nearly 19-foot Empire State Building. The edible confection will be the tallest ever produced at the ...

Baking Expert Puts Health in the Holidays With Canola Oil
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov 20, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Indulging with less guilt is easy this holiday season. Simply substitute canola oil ...

Boston Globe (registration)

Five Ways to Get Home for the Holidays
Kiplinger.com, DC - 3 hours ago
By Cameron Huddleston, Contributing Editor, Kiplinger.com There's no place like home for the holidays. The only trouble, often, is getting there at an ...
Video: Bush Tries to Ease Air Travel Congestion AssociatedPress
Military airspace will be hope for the holidays Newsday
Flight paths expand for holidays Boston Globe (registration)
Pioneer Press - Washington Times
all 905 news articles

The Kimberly Hotel Celebrates the Holidays With Wallet-Friendly ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
NEW YORK, Nov 20, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- When the leaves wither and the air gets crisp, it's a sign that the holiday season is here. ...

Searchme Launches Shopping Feature in Time for Holidays to Make ...
MarketWatch - 29 minutes ago
A search for other hot holiday gifts, like "Elmo Live" or "Disney Princess" would offer the same kinds of results. "Online shopping has offered a trusted, ...

National Jeweler Network

Retailers see not-so-jolly holidays
Boston Herald, United States - 11 hours ago
The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is forecasting a 1 percent drop in holiday sales this year based on feedback from its 3000 members, most of whose ...
Meaning of holidays not lost, merely transformed The Orion
Gift Card Hassles During The Holidays WNCT
What's the 2008 Holiday Season's 'Must Have' Gift? Cash! MarketWatch
WTVW - Pittsburgh Channel.com
all 194 news articles

Business Wire (press release)

Kohl's to Offer Wider Price Cuts For Holidays
Wall Street Journal - 11 hours ago
Associated Press Last year on Black Friday, the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, the retailer didn't cut prices on its most expensive, ...
Retailers Lure Shoppers With Pre-Black Friday Sales TheDenverChannel.com
Kohl’s Reveals Tremendous After Thanksgiving Deals to Help ... Business Wire (press release)
all 10 news articles

StarPhoenix

Kohl's to offer wider price cuts for holidays- WSJ
Reuters - 8 hours ago
US retail chains traditionally launch their big holiday promotions immediately after Thanksgiving Day in late November, but many have started to offer ...
HP to extend holidays to cut costs Economic Times
India's Future Group to make tootpaste, detergents Reuters
all 2,450 news articles

Cub Foods Responds to Economic Climate as Holidays Approach
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
STILLWATER, Minn., Nov 19, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cub Foods today announced its new Holiday Bucks promotion, an easy way for customers to earn money toward ...

Hope Full Holidays
Baltimore Sun, United States - 7 hours ago
Hospice of the Chesapeake's Spiritual & Bereavement Care Center will offer Hope Full Holidays seminars to help people who are grieving learn coping ...

Resources