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Mental Health Wellness

The holidays are supposed to be times with family and times of joy, but every year, people succumb to the phenomenon known as the “holiday blues”. Generally, this bout of depression is characterized by social isolation and self-doubt, which are often also signs of clinical depression. Although the rumor has been squashed that suicide rates go up between Thanksgiving and Christmas (it has, however, been proven that suicide rates spike after the holidays), it is still important to recognize the signs of depression during the holiday season. With the stress of Christmas shopping and Thanksgiving travels quickly approach, it is imperative to not only watch out for yourself, but also for you loved ones. Look for changes in sleep, irritability, loss of interest in things usually done with joy, dramatic weight changes, and feelings of helplessness, among other symptoms. Substance abuse also tends to go up during the holidays, so restricting your own or your loved one’s alcohol or other drug consumption is also important during the holiday season. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, so ensure the mental health of yourself and your loved ones is above par for this holiday season, and, if it is not, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline can help at 1-800-273-TALK. For more information and sources, refer to these sites: http://www.helathline.com/health/depression/holidays#2 http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=156980 http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-signs-and-symptoms.htm

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