Page 19 - Suburban Living Fuquay-Varina

Health & FitnessTaking 5- 10 minutes to find a quiet space to practice meditation or yoga or even just sit alone with your thoughts can increase your mental focus, awareness, clear your mind when you’refeeling overwhelmed and give your mooda boost. However, when you are feelingdown, it is common to isolate yourself fromothers. It is important that you make a pointto engage with other people, even if it’s justgetting out and walking around a store orgoing to a coffee shop where other peopleare around. Being in close proximity toothers is important to help you feel connectedand less alone. Finding someone you cantalk with and share some of your stressesand feelings with can greatly improve youroutlook and mood. Finally, the nature of theholiday season – parties, dinners, shopping, wrapping, traveling – can make it a verystressful time of the year. While the thingswe fill our schedules with are often enjoyable,they are still stressful (even good stress isstress). To combat the mental fatigue and decreased mood that comes along withbeing overwhelmed, it is a good idea to makelists (Santa does it, after all), prioritize your schedule, and don’t over commit. Being organized and having some margin in your schedule will keep you feeling less stressed, especially when unexpected events or visitors pop up.Even if you are singing “deck the halls” before you clean up the last of Thanksgiving dinner because the holidays are your favorite time of the year, these tips can help you ensure your mood stays jolly. While it is wonderful to spread holiday cheer, keep in mind that the holidays are often hard on others. Be sure to check in on friends and family that may be feeling a little more “bah humbug”. If you notice a friend or family member that may be struggling with depression around the holidays, reach out to them, offer to talk or bring them a meal; don’t let them isolate and be alone. If you become concerned with their behaviors (increasingly down or sad, crying spells, increased irritability, overeating or no appetite) offer to get them to someone that they can talk to, such as a medical doctor, pastor, or therapist. If you or someone you know is feeling so down that thoughts of suicide are occurring, seek medical assistance promptly. Sometimes, the “holiday blues” are more than just a passing feeling around the holidays and medical treatment may be deemed necessary to help get you or a family member back to feeling well.If the “Holiday Blues” seem to linger beyond the holidays, or if you answered “yes” to 5 or more of the questions above, it may be time to reach out for professional help. In addition to Major Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder can also impact many people during the holiday season, due to the changes in temperature and light cycles. If this describes you or a loved one, you are not alone. According to dbsalliance.org, Major Depressive Disorder affects 14.8 million American adults (or 6.7 % of the population) each year (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun; 62(6): 617-27). The recommended treatment for mild to moderate depression is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It is best to find a licensed therapist that has experience and training using CBT to treat depressive symptoms. Sometimes, medication in conjunction with psychotherapy is needed to minimize the symptoms of depression so that the person can regain functioning and fully engage in therapy. Persons diagnosed with severe or chronic Major Depressive Disorder often need medicationto help regulate the chemical imbalance that occurs in the brain, as well as psychotherapy to assist them with cognitive behavioral techniques for coping with symptoms. Most people find that therapy is helpful in relieving and often resolving their symptoms of mild to moderate or situationaldepression.Whether you are decking the halls or feeling “bah humbug”, you are not alone. Everyone experiences changes in moods throughout the year, but it is especially common to feel down around the holidays. Holidays often bring a lot of memories (happy and sad), expectations, and stress, and everyone adjusts in different ways. Practicing some of the tips above can help keep your mood lifted during the season and keep you aware of when to seek help for yourself or a loved one. Focus on the positives of each day, and give yourself a much needed break. Before you know it, the ball will be dropping to signal the beginning of a brand new year.Jamie Criswell is a licenced therapist with Foundations Family Therapy in Fuquay-Varina.7629 Purfoy Road, Ste 109 • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526(919) 762-0358“Better hearing is better living.”• Diagnostic hearing evaluations • Hearing aid fittings• Hearing aid repairs and service • Accepting new patientsDon’t suffer with hearing loss. We can help.Stephanie L. Galloway, Au.D., CCC-Awww.suburbanlivingmag.comSuburban Living Fuquay-Varina | Page 17Assured Audiology provides lifetime coverage on every hearing aid we sell and full refunds within the trial period.