Putting your mind at ease from Seasonal Anxiety Disorder, sharing the holidays

It may be easy to put you in the holiday spirit by watching the classic movie Miracle On 34th Street or driving around neighborhoods on the lookout for lots of holiday decorations and lights. But pressure from the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas over such things as financial stress and demands on your time can bring on the holiday blues.

Watching a holiday favorite movie or looking at the colorful Christmas decorations on someone’s home may not be enough to shake you free of what’s also known as SAD, Seasonal Anxiety and Depression. Treatment for SAD is offered through NAMI-McHenry County (National Alliance on Mental Illness).

Phyllis Seyler, NAMI-McHenry County program manager, says a lot of cases of SAD are seen at this time of the year.

“It’s pressure and anxiety that hits people, so NAMI offers support groups,” she said.

Seyler points to the NAMI holiday workshop where they have what’s called expressive arts for people to work with different crafts and talk to each other in a relaxing environment. “Support groups are important and available before, during, and after the holidays,” Seyler said.

The buildup to the holidays can create significant pressure and can trigger stress at times from unrealistic expectations. The feeling of being alone can also become overwhelming at a time when you see others getting together with their families. But Lachell Jeffries, NAMI-Mcty Community Outreach Coordinator, urges people feeling alone to reach out to someone you really trust and let them know your situation.

“What you can also do when you are overwhelmed is reach out to NAMI, one on one support with recovery specialists and family support advocates and consider WRAP, wellness recovery action plan,” Jeffries-Hanson said. Seyler wants to make it clear that it doesn’t take someone living with a diagnosis to be totally stressed.

“We try to develop a wellness plan similar to what Lachell is talking about whether it’s the recovery action plan (WRAP) or if it is a workshop that helps you learn to use tools to destress,” Seyler said.

All of those are offered by NAMI for people living with a diagnosis or just wanting to make sure their mental health is where it should be.

NAMI-McHenry County Executive Director Alex Campbell knows first-hand how the loss of a family member can affect people, especially over the holidays.

“This was the first Thanksgiving and is the first Christmas without my mother. She passed away a few months ago at the age of 96.” Processing the loss of family so it’s not overwhelming is something that support groups through NAMI can do.

“We have those same experiences…we’re in the same boat,” Seyler said.

After the holidays are over, the lights and decorations come down, the parties are over, and the bills come due. Jeffries urges people to try not to stress on this. “Make a budget and payment plan and follow through,” Jeffries said.

Try hard not to go over your budget.

These are a few suggestions offered by NAMI for the holidays. While NAMI is focused on the Holiday Blues/SAD, many people get through the holidays unscathed. They are experiencing the joy of the holiday season, but for a significant number of people, loneliness, anxiety, and sadness make the holidays something they fear. These unwanted feelings wash over them and they feel helpless.

Let NAMI-McHenry County help you as Jeffries expressed clearly, “Take it slow…do step by step…increase the happiness within yourself.”

NAMI-McHenry County can help you whether you’re facing holiday blues/SAD (Seasonal Anxiety and Depression) or just looking to share your experiences in a support group setting.

NAMI-McHenry County at (815) 308-0851 or email NAMI at info@namimchenrycounty.org

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